CHAPTER XVIII 



THE PINTAIL DUCK AND THE SHOVELLER 



THE elegantly-formed bird which is known as the 

 Sea Pheasant, Winter Duck, Pintail Duck, and Pin- 

 tail Teal, is, as one of its local names denotes, among 

 our winter visitors ; it visits not only the inland waters 

 but also the coast. Like the Magpie, it pays much 

 attention to its elongated tail, which is raised when 

 on the water, and also when the bird is on land. By 

 some this bird has been classed with the Teals ; but 

 to me it has been, and always will be, simply the 

 Pintail Duck. 



After the weather has been very rough, a few 

 Pintail Ducks will have come with other fowl as near 

 to the harbour's mouth as they apparently consider 

 prudent, and there they may be seen rising and falling 

 like corks, now down in the hollows, now on the 

 crests of the waves, their tails cocked up and their 

 eyes looking exceedingly wide-awake. As to pro- 

 curing a Pintail Duck at such a time, well, it would 

 be absolute folly even to think about it. 



It has been " dirty weather " for nearly a week off 

 and on, and the fishing-boats are closely packed in 



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