THE PINTAIL DUCK AND THE SHOVELLER 227 



haunt of theirs within a few hundred yards of 

 the 'coy. 



At times, like all other fowl, they flighted, and 

 then it was that a few pairs would come in with 

 the ducks and be captured. If fowl once get to 

 know that they are secure from interruption and 

 noise, it will take a lot of decoying to make them 

 at all shy. However, there is a medium in all 

 things. Shovellers are plump ducks, and when 

 their food is right are excellent for the table. 



THE PINTAIL DUCK. 



(Dafila acuta.) 



MALE. Bill black, but the sides under the nos- 

 trils are pale blue; iris of a reddish-orange; head 

 and throat dusky brown. On the hind-neck is a 

 lengthened band of greenish-black, and two white 

 bands following to the white of the lower parts. 

 Back and sides finely waved with grey and white ; 

 the lesser wing coverts grey. Beauty-spot, which is 

 green and black, is margined in front with red, and 

 behind with white. The long scapulars velvet 

 black, edged towards the end with yellowish-white. 

 Primary quills and coverts are light greyish-brown, 

 with white shafts. The belly white, faintly waved 

 with grey. Tail feathers are grey, edged with 

 yellowish-white, the tint getting deeper towards the 

 two middle feathers, which are brownish-black ; 

 legs and feet greyish-black. Length, from bill to 

 tail, twenty-five inches. 



FEMALE. Smaller. Bill greyish-black above, red 



