374 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



considerably, even at long range. The Pintail swims well and 

 looks remarkably graceful in the water, but it is not known to dive 

 much when wounded; on the ground they walk freely, usually 

 with long neck outstretched and tail raised. Pintail feed at 

 night principally, and towards sunset may be observed in the 

 shallows, with the fore half of their bodies entirely submerged 

 and their long tails bent downwards parallel to the water. One 

 or two birds of the flock are generally on the look-out for 

 approaching danger whilst their comrades are so searching for 

 food. Sometimes stubbles and grass-fields are resorted to for the 

 purpose of feeding, and mud-flats, as soon as they are left bare, 

 or nearly so, are frequented. The food of the Pintail consists of 

 grass and the leaves and shoots of aquatic plants, insects of 

 all kinds, worms, and land and water shells, especially the small 

 and fragile species ; grain and wild rice are also eaten in great 

 quantities. Hume states that next to the Mallard the Pintail 

 is the best Duck for the table in India, but the same remarks do 

 not always apply to its flesh when killed in this country. The 

 Pintail is not a very noisy bird, and during the day rarely utters 

 a sound, except a very low chattering, which may be heard 

 amongst a flock whilst feeding. When alarmed they utter a soft 

 quack much less strident than that of the Mallard, but audible for 

 a long distance. The call-note is described by Naumann as a 

 low kah, and during the love season the drake utters a deep cliik, 

 preceded by a hiss and followed by a low grating note. 



Nidification. — According to latitude, and consequent state 

 of the season, the eggs of the Pintail are laid early in May 

 or early in June. The breeding grounds of this species are 

 situated on the Arctic tundras near water of some description, 

 or, in lower latitudes, on the margin of lakes and ponds, or 

 in swamps and marshes. The nest is usually made on a dry bit 

 of ground amongst shrubs or coarse vegetation, and is composed 

 of dead grass, withered sedges and rushes, and dry leaves, lined 

 warmly with down mingled with a few curly feathers from the 

 flanks of the female bird. The eggs are from six to ten in 

 number, pale buffish green in colour, smooth in texture, but with 

 little gloss. They measure on an average 2 "15 inches in length 

 by I '5 inch in breadth. Down sooty brown distinctly tipped 



