The True Ducks. 225 



The Pin-tail is a sociable bird and 

 assembles in large flocks, but it is some- 

 what capricious in its choice of localities. 

 Usually it is met with on large sheets of 

 water or tanks on which there is a mixture 

 of clear water and islands of floating weeds. 

 It also frequents the sea-coast. It does 

 not appear to be found on the large rivers 

 in any quantities. Pin-tails feed a good 

 deal at night, and they then betake them- 

 selves to shallow swamps and even to 

 rice-fields. The Pin-tail is very shy, and its 

 flight is extremely rapid. When once dis- 

 turbed it seldom returns to the same piece 

 of water until some hours have passed. 

 It is one of the best Ducks for the table. 



Mr. Hume brings to notice an in- 

 teresting fact about these Ducks. He 

 says : " It is worth noting, because it 

 is a peculiarity almost confined to this 

 species, that during the cold season 

 one continually comes across large flocks 

 consisting entirely of males. I cannot 

 say that I ever noticed similar flocks of 

 females, but this may be because the 

 females do not attract the eye similarly, 

 and are not equally readily discriminated 

 at any distance, but ' bull-picnics ' I have 

 noted, times without number, as a speciality 

 of the Pin-tail." 



VOL. II. 15 



