196 AXAS ACUTA. 



and various parts of France and Italy; migrates to 

 Sweden, and is found throughout Russia and Siberia.* 

 It is a very quick diver, so as to make it difficult to be 

 shot ; flies also with great rapidity, and utters a note 

 not unlike that of the mallard, but louder. I> fond of 

 salines and ponds overgrown with roods and rushes. 

 Feeds during the day, as well as in the morning and 

 evening. 



261. ANAS ACUTJ, LINN^US AND WILSON. PINTAIL DUCK. 



WILSON, PLATE LXVIII. FIG. III. EDINBURGH COLLEGE Mt'SEfM. 



THE pintail, or, as it is sometimes called, the sprigtail 

 is a common and well known duck in our markets, mm h 

 esteemed for the excellence of its flesh, and is generally 

 in good order. It is a shy and cautious bird, feeds in 

 the mud flats, and shallow fresh water marshes ; but 

 rarely resides on the sea coast. It seldom dives, is 

 very noisy, and has a kind of chattering note. When 

 wounded, they will sometimes dive, and, coming up, 

 conceal themselves under the bow of the boat, moving 

 round as it moves. Are vigilant in giving the alurra 

 on the approach of the gunner, who often curses the 

 watchfulness of the sprigtail. Some ducks, when 

 aroused, disperse in different directions ; but the sprig- 

 tails, when alarmed, cluster confusedly together as they 

 mount, and thereby afford the sportsman a fair oppor- 

 tunity of raking them with advantage. They generally 

 leave the Delaware about the middle of March, on the 

 way to their native regions, the north, where they are 

 most numerous. They inhabit the whole northern 

 parts of Europe and Asia, and, doubtless, the corres- 

 ponding latitudes of America. Are said, likewise, to be 

 found in Italy. Great flocks of them are sometimes spread 

 :ili mi: the isles and shores of Scotland and Ireland, and 

 on the interior lakes of both these countries. On the 



* LATHAM. 



