PLATE I 

 PINTAIL. Dafila acuta 



June I5/, 1899. This Plate was taken on a small grassy island in the middle 

 of a loch in central Scotland. We saw several pairs of Pintails swimming 

 about, and a few single drakes, so we landed, and very soon succeeded in 

 discovering their nests. 



Most of the nests were very open and easily discovered ; they were all very 

 deep and well lined, and I was rather surprised to find that only two had their 

 full complement of eggs. 



I procured several photographs, and carefully examined all the nests ; there 

 were two distinct types of eggs, one being very green and the other very 

 yellow. We also saw several Shovellers' and Tufted Ducks' nests. 



'47 



