CHILIAN PINTAIL 
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observed by Peters (MS.) in Rio Negro Province, the present species comprised, in 
his estimate, from 80-85% of the whole. Whether this proportion holds for other 
districts it is hard to say, for this duck comes and goes so irregularly. But taking the 
open country of Argentina and Chile as a whole, this is undoubtedly the commonest 
duck, probably greatly outnumbering all other species put together. Only in recent 
years has it been subject to systematic slaughter, for the old-time gauchos were 
contemptuous of everything but beef and mutton; fish and birds were beneath their 
notice (E. Gibson, 1920). The shepherds of foreign nationalities, Spaniards, Basques, 
Italians, French and Scandinavians, do not altogether share this prejudice, but dis- 
like the cooking trouble involved (E. Gibson, 1920). But now the bird is hunted 
hard, especially in the eastern districts, and large numbers are sold in the markets of 
Buenos Aires (Wetmore, MS.). Its future is problematical. The game-laws, so I am 
told, are excellent, but practically no attempt is made to enforce them, and most 
officials are easily silenced by a small gift. Wdiere land is held in large blocks, many 
owners forbid shooting, and protect the birds for their own sport; so until the large 
estancias are broken up, it is reasonable to suppose that the species will continue to 
prosper. 
Enemies. Natural enemies of ducks seem to be very few in the pampas regions, 
and not at all serious. The subject has been discussed under the Chiloe Widgeon. 
Damage. The older writers, notably Hudson, speak of the damage caused by 
these birds in the corn-fields as really serious. They are described as coming to the 
maize-fields with pigeons and Upland Geese, and feeding on the corn-cobs after these 
have been gathered in heaps. E. Gibson (1920) has shot specimens whose crops 
burst on striking the ground, and which contained more than a large handful of grain. 
Food Value. The flesh is everywhere excellent, and the species is one of the 
principal game-birds of the Argentine. 
Hunt. In Durnford’s (1877) time the colonists still trapped them at night when 
they came to feed in the wheat-fields of Chubut. In Hudson’s day they were shy 
enough on the open pampa so that trained horses were used. Behind these the hun- 
ter would advance as the horse grazed slowly on. So thickly do these birds gather 
that great shots have been made even with moderate-sized guns. P. L. Sclater and 
Hudson (1889) speak of sixty having been taken at one shot, and E. Gibson (1920) 
also speaks of large shots — sixty -four with two barrels of an ordinary shoulder-gun 
— made on his place. He tells of a guest whose spoil required the services of a cart 
and two horses to be brought back to the ranch house, and this enormous bag was 
obtained by one gun in one day, taking wing shots only. 
