CHILIAN PINTAIL 333 
great numbers may congregate at any time or in any place where the water level is 
suitable. 
Wariness. Even at the present time the Brown Pintail seems to be less wary 
than its northern relative. But it is far from being a stupid duck. E. Gibson (1920) 
describes it as neither stupidly confiding nor wildly shy. During a great northern 
movement of male birds in early November, 1920, Wetmore (MS.) writes me that 
enormous numbers passed over him within sixty yards, and showed little fear if he 
merely crouched on the ground. In northwestern Patagonia Peters (MS.) found it 
moderately wild, rather difficult to approach, and quick to discover some one lying 
in wait, and this in spite of the fact that it was very little hunted there. 
On their breeding grounds in Tierra del Fuego they must be fairly confiding, 
judging from Crawshay’s (1907) statement that they come back again and again 
over the head of the traveler, even when they have been shot at several times. 
Dr. Wetmore (MS.) says that they impressed him as alert and intelligent, and 
eminently well able to take care of themselves. In wilder sections where not molested 
they exhibited little fear, but where hunted it was often almost impossible to come 
within range of them, especially on open pampa where there was little or no oppor- 
tunity for concealment. 
Daily Movements. Hudson speaks of them as coming from the river to feed 
by night in the .grain-fields of Patagonia (P. L. Sclater and Hudson, 1889). 
Gait, Swimming, Diving. Both on land and on water this bird is very graceful 
in appearance, and entirely like our own Pintail in posture and movements. It feeds 
by immersing the head and neck, or by tipping up in deeper water. Mr. Peters (MS.) 
once saw a single specimen (sex?) repeatedly dive in deep water, but he says prob- 
ably not one in 10,000 ever feeds in this way. The young he found diving actively 
when disturbed, using their wings only under water, and “ popping to the surface like 
rubber balls after a few seconds’ submergence.” 
Flight. On the wing this bird resembles its northern relative, but it appears 
somewhat heavier and thicker in the neck. Though the sexes are so similar in plum- 
age the female may often be distinguished in flight by the shorter, less pointed tail, 
especially when the flocks swerve in passing overheard. 
It is an extremely gregarious duck, gathering in tremendous flocks, especially in 
winter. E. Gibson (1920) says he has seen aggregations numbering up to a thousand 
birds. In the great flight of males witnessed by Wetmore (MS.) they passed in 
flocks of from six to a hundred, the larger companies traveling in irregular lines, the 
birds more or less abreast and flying steadily northward at a height of from thirty 
