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Nestling (Cholopyain-Ost, Archangel, 23rd June, 1872). Crown dark brown, this colour passing along the 

 back of the neck to the back, which latter is also dark brown, tending in shade to olive-brown ; on 

 each side of the back, from the wing to the tail, a white line ■ loral space dull brown, from the base of 

 the bill to the nape two indistinct brown lines, one passing through and the other below the eye; 

 underparts dull white. 



The Pintail occurs throughout Europe, Asia as far south as Ceylon, Northern Africa, and 

 America down from the British possessions into Costa Rica. In Great Britain it is met with 

 during the winter season ; but a few may remain to breed. Mr. A. G. More writes that " the 

 nest has been found by Mr. John Hancock, who informs me that he has known the Pintail 

 to breed spontaneously in a swamp in Northumberland, which swamp is now drained; but 

 Mr. Hancock believes that the bird still breeds occasionally on the Northumbrian moors." 



In Scotland, Mr. Robert Gray writes, " although nowhere a common species, it has occurred 

 in almost every county. It is now many years since I made my first acquaintance with it in the 

 East Lothian, where I happened to shoot a brace out of a flock one winter evening as I sat 

 under shelter of a rock on the sea-coast near Dunbar. The birds were flying noiselessly in a line, 

 and about to pitch down on a freshwater stream at its junction with the sea, where I had seen 

 them two nights before ; the two I shot were females. 



" In the western counties the Pintail is a scarce species, some winters passing without a 

 single specimen being seen or obtained by any of the shore shooters. A young male, which I 

 examined, was shot on the river Cart, near Glasgow, in January 1864; and in several other 

 instances stray specimens have come into my hands. In only one case, however, have I been 

 able to trace it into the Outer Hebrides — a specimen having been shot on the farm of Milton, in 

 the island of South Uist, by Mr. A. Carmichael, in the winter of 1869-70. As a rule, therefore, 

 this bird is found mostly on the east coasts, ranging from Berwickshire and East Lothian to the 

 Shetland Islands, where it is found in spring, and again in autumn. In many parts of Orkney 

 it is said to be pretty abundant, especially in Sanday, where it occurs both in the sea and in the 

 fresh water. Mr. Angus has informed me that a pair of Pintail Ducks were seen in the loch of 

 Slains, in Aberdeenshire, on the 4th of May, 1866, and that he shot at a pair (probably the same 

 birds) three days afterwards as they flew up the Ythan, nearly opposite Waterside. Mr. Angus 

 also states that he examined an immature male in the collection of Mr. John Wilson, at Methlic, 

 which had been shot by that gentleman on the loch at Haddo House on 10th March, 1867." 



In Ireland it is recorded by Thompson as " a regular winter visitant to the coasts and 

 inland waters." 



Professor Reinhardt records it as " accidental, but not very rare, in North Greenland, as 

 well as in South Greenland ;" and Dr. Walker obtained specimens at Godhavn. It is found in 

 Iceland, where, according to Faber, " it arrives on the coast at the end of April, and reaches 

 Myvatn the beginning of May, where it breeds pretty commonly. Probably of general distri- 

 bution throughout the country. Disappears at the beginning of September." It is said to be 

 not rare in summer on the Faeroes ; and probably a few breed there. In Scandinavia it is common ; 

 and in Norway, according to Mr. Collett, " it occurs in the interior during migration, and breeds 

 here and there in the lowlands, as, for instance, at Land, and on the Fiskumvand at Eker, and 

 more often on the fell-lakes ; northwards it breeds commonly up to and within the Polar circle ; 



