SIX MONTHS’ BIRD COLLECTING IN EGYPT. 225 
are very second rate in Egypt; but tastes differ, and I have 
heard it praised in England. Indeed, a writer in the 
“Zoologist” says, “It is one of the best, if not the very 
best of the edible Ducks” (p. 6923) (cf, p. 3826). 
189, GADWALL,* Chaulelasmus streperus (Linn.). 
Markets at Alexandria and Cairo. 
190, PINTAIL Dajfila acuta (Linn.); “ Balbul.” 
The Pintail is the commonest Duck on the Damietta 
branch of the Nile, and we certainly saw huge flocks of 
them. Yet I dare say there would be thousands more, and 
other Ducks too, if it were not for the annual slaughter 
which takes place at Menzaleh. We shot some at flight, 
but the only time when they seem to be approachable on 
the river is the early morning. 
We kept the drake alive which our boatman took on 
Menzaleh (see p. 94) eighteen days, and then let him go 
at the Barrage, but I doubt if he would live, as he was very 
thin, and his wings cramped from being tied together. 
When our captive was roused he hissed, but he was an 
apathetic bird. : 
There is to some extent a separation of the sexes, as I 
often noticed a flock all males. In our voyage up the Nile 
we still found it the commonest of the tribe, but not in 
coming down again. I shot five females the first week in 
March, and after that date very few Pintails or Ducks of any 
kind were seen on the river, except the Garganey Teal, which 
came later. The last Pintail shot by us was on the 8th of 
* Yarrell gives “Grey Duck” as a synonym of the Gadwall. On the 
coast of Durham I have often heard it applied to the common Mallard. 
Q 
