PINTAIL DUCK. 199 



ing upon the surface of the water, become drifted 

 together into large patches. Here they soon be- 

 come exceedingly fat and their flesh fine-flavored. 

 They fly closely together without order, darting 

 aimlessly about, and it is not uncommon to kill 

 several at a shot. When travelling, their flight 

 is steadier, and they often keep up a continual 

 cackling and whistling noise. Their call-note is a 

 low, plaintive whistle of one tone two or three 

 times repeated, which they will answer readily 

 upon its being well imitated; but it is as well 

 to use the mallard call for this fowl, as they 

 answer it full as well, and decoy to mallard- 

 stools as quickly and readily as though of their 

 own kind. It is therefore unnecessary to make 

 decoys to imitate sprigtails. They do not show 

 as well as mallard decoys, being smaller and 

 the colors more neutral and unattractive ; and if 

 made with long necks, as the natural birds are, 

 they are easily broken, besides taking up too much 

 room when moving about. 



In sprigtail-shooting it is best to place the 

 decoys to windward of the blind when circum- 

 stances will allow, particularly when the ducks 

 are shy ; and in this respect they differ from all 

 other wild-fowl. When much pursued, they get 



