112 



The Water-fowl Family 



feathers, which are not yet fully grown. By the 

 last of the month they are scattered over their 

 fall haunts, and are seen in numbers throughout 

 the West and South. 



In portions of the West, where they frequent 

 the ponds and smaller lakes, they are much more 

 easily killed than on larger bodies of water. The 

 pintail arrive on the coast of North Carolina late 

 in October, and are found in numbers through the 

 brackish sounds. Decoys attract them occasion- 

 ally, but never in as large numbers as the other 

 ducks, for they are always wary and quick to 

 suspect danger. These birds can be distin- 

 guished afar. The white under parts of the male 

 and their long necks mark them at once. The 

 flight is high in lines abreast, but almost before 

 the flock is seen they are by and out of sight. 

 When about to decoy no bird is more graceful ; 

 they often drop from a height far out of range 

 and circle about the stool, watching carefully for 

 the slightest motion; finally they swing within 

 range and plunge among the wooden ducks. 

 After realizing the mistake, they spring up all 

 together, and are out of shot almost before you 

 realize the chance is gone. 



On the water, pintail maintain the same grace 

 they show in flight, carrying themselves with all 

 the ease of a swan. Many of the flocks winter 

 much farther south than North Carolina, and 



