146 BRITISH BIRDS. 



An example was obtained by Blyth in the winter of 

 1837 38 in Leadenhall Market. This specimen is still 

 in existence, but not so some others said to have been 

 obtained since in various localities. 



GENUS CXVII. DAFILA, Stephens (1824). 

 Tail pointed, middle feathers much lengthened in the 

 male. Neck rather long, slender. Bill much as in 



Mareca. 



218. Dafila aeuta (Linn.). PINTAIL. 



Hab. Northern Palaearctic and Nearctic regions. In 

 winter southward nearly to Equator. 



Male : head and throat glossy dark reddish-brown ; 

 darker on back of neck, which has a white stripe down 

 each side ; wing-coverts dull buff ; speculum green, 

 followed by a band of black and another of white ; other 

 plumage much as in Mareca penelope ; bill dusky, edged 

 with bluish-grey ; iris dark brown ; feet slate-brown. 

 Length 26*00 while long tail-feathers appear. Female : 

 mottled with dark and pale brown above ; speculum 

 green ; below nearly white, slightly speckled on neck 

 and breast ; tail short, dark brown with whitish bars. 



A fairly common winter visitor ; it breeds in the 

 Hebrides and probably also in the Orkneys. 



GENUS CXVIII. ANAS, Brisson (1760}. 

 Bill as long as head, depressed and somewhat broad ; 

 laminae apparent on both mandibles. Hind toe small, 

 elevated, unlobed. 



219. Anas boscas, Linn. WILD DUCK. 

 Hab. Palasarctio and Western Nearctic regions. 

 Male : Length 22*00. Female : feathers of whole 

 plumage chiefly having dusky centres and pale brown 



