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THE PINTAILED DUCK. 

 (Dafila acuta.) 



THE nest of the Pintail is placed among the sedges, 

 rushes, and reeds of open ponds. The clutch consists 

 of eight to ten greenish eggs, which are smaller and 

 somewhat thicker than those of the common Wild Duck. 

 It is a shy bird, difficult to surprise, which arrives here 

 in large flocks, on its way elsewhere, only a few settling 

 on large inaccessible ponds, or on the hidden pools 

 hemmed in by huge reed beds, on the Flatten See in 

 Hungary, especially in shallow places where the white 

 water-lilies and other water plants almost cover the 

 surface with their leaves. In such places it pecks about 

 the ground in the same way as the farmyard duck. Its 

 food is tender duck-weed, and the young juicy shoots 

 and points of water plants. But its most eager search 

 is for water beetles, and the larvae of dragon-flies and 

 other such insects. As the marshes are drained and 

 brought into cultivation the number of these beautiful 

 birds decreases. It is still, however, not uncommon in 

 Hungary. 



This is a slender and finely shaped duck which is 

 locally called the "Sea Pheasant." It comes regularly 

 to our British Islands in October, staying in some 

 districts longer than in others. In the North it seldom 

 tarries long. Its favourite resorts are about our 

 Southern shores and estuaries. When it is feeding the 

 tail is raised high above the water, its head being below 

 the surface. A hybrid between the Mallard and the 



