356 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



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 hah, and during the love season the drake utters a deep 

 cluk, 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 favourite breed- 

 ing 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 made of dead grass, withered sedges and rushes, and 

 dry leaves, lined warmly with down mingled with a few curly feathers from the 

 breast of the female bird. The eggs are from six to ten in number, pale bufifish- 

 green in colour, smooth in texture, but with little gloss. They measure on an 

 average 2'15 inches in length by 1'5 inch in breadth. The down is sooty-brown 

 distinctly tipped with white, but not so conspicuously as that of the Wigeon. 

 One brood only is reared in the year. Incubation lasts from twenty-three to 

 twenty-seven days. 



Diagnostic characters — (Nuptial plumage) Dafila, with the central 

 tail feathers black, a narrow cinnamon band across the wing coverts, and the 

 culmen more than I'S inch in length (male) ; with the tail feathers brown 

 obliquely barred with white, and the culmen more than 1-8 inch in length (female). 

 Length, 24 to 28 inches. 



