312 FEATHERED GAME 
The length of this species is from seventeen 
to twenty inches; the extent from thirty-two to 
thirty-five inches. 
THE PINTAIL. THE SPRIGTAIL. 
(Dafila acuta.) 
It is a great pity that we so seldom capture 
the Pintail, for he is one of the most beautiful 
of the ducks as well as a fine bird at the table. 
He is a great favorite with the sportsman wher- 
ever he is found, for the high order of shooting 
skill necessary to stop him in his flight is justly 
appreciated. 
There is no member of the duck tribe so 
gracefully made or built upon such clipper lines 
as is this bird and he is one of the fleetest of 
wing of all his family. When under way he is 
indeed a flyer, going at a remarkable rate of 
speed. The Pintail’s flight will at once remind 
the bay gunner of that of the ‘‘old squaw,’’ so 
well known along the Atlantic coast. The same 
chain lightning speed and darting and wheeling 
evolutions are common to both species. The 
speed of either of these is far greater than the 
