THE PINTAIL DUCK AND THE SHOVELLER 227 



haunt of theirs within a few hundred yards of 

 the 'coy. 



At times, Hke all other fowl, they flighted, and 

 then it was that a few pairs would come in with 

 the ducks and be captured. If fowl once get to 

 know that they are secure from interruption and 

 noise, it will take a lot of decoying to make them 

 at all shy. However, there is a medium in all 

 things. Shovellers are plump ducks, and when 

 their food is right are excellent for the table. 



THE PINTAIL DUCK. 

 {Dajila acuta ^ 



Male. — Bill black, but the sides under the nos- 

 trils are pale blue ; iris of a reddish-orange; head 

 and throat dusky brown. On the hind-neck is a 

 lengthened band of greenish-black, and two white 

 bands following to the white of the lower parts. 

 Back and sides finely waved with grey and white ; 

 the lesser wing coverts grey. Beauty-spot, which is 

 green and black, is margined in front with red, and 

 behind with white. The long scapulars velvet 

 black, edged towards the end with yellowish-white. 

 Primary quills and coverts are light greyish-brown, 

 with white shafts. The belly white, faintly waved 

 with grey. Tail feathers are grey, edged with 

 yellowish-white, the tint getting deeper towards the 

 two middle feathers, which are brownish-black ; 

 legs and feet greyish-black. Length, from bill to 

 tail, twenty-five inches. 



Female. — Smaller. Bill greyish-black above, red 



