PLATE II 

 PINTAIL. Dafila acuta 



June is/, 1899. This nest was built in a patch of burnt grass on a grassy 

 island in a large loch. The young Pintails were just coming out of the sht-11, 

 and all the time I was taking the photograph, the old duck ran backwards 

 and forwards a few yards from me. I was much struck with the easy way 

 she moved about ; she looked much more like a pheasant than a duck. 



We didn't hear any of the Pintails utter a sound as they rose from their 

 nests, but they sometimes uttered a ' quaak' as they ran back along the 

 ground to see if we were molesting the nest. 



VOL. iv. 2 Q 149 



