THE PINTAIL 315 



ing plumage. The Pintails were great mys- 

 teries to the fishermen-gunners who shot them. 

 They were the first of that species that they had 

 seen in nearlj^ forty years of gunning on the 

 coast, where deep water ducks had been their 

 principal game. 



The Pintail breeds from the northern States 

 of the Union as far to the north, probably, as 

 does any duck of the fresh water. It is a citi- 

 zen of almost any part of the northern hemi- 

 sphere and wherever found is much prized by 

 duck shooters. Though not considered numer- 

 ous anywhere in the east, certainly their most 

 natural dwelling place would be in the lakes 

 and ponds of the Maine woods where they may 

 be more abundant in the breeding season than 

 generally supposed. It winters on the coast 

 line of the South Atlantic States, and on the 

 Gulf coast to Central America. 



In the acquaintance of most gunners, aside 

 from the seaf owl, which from their greater num- 

 bers are better known, there are very few kinds 

 of ducks ; and in this somewhat uncertain knowl- 

 edge any webfoot of doubtful pedigree, which 

 is not plainly wood duck, black duck, mallard 

 or teal, is lumped into the general family of 



