The Pintail 



Taken in Merced County Photos by the Author 



AN ANXIOUS MOTHER 



THIS FEMALE BY PARADING OSTENTATIOUSLY UP AND DOWN IS COVERING THE RETREAT 

 OF HER QUARTER-GROWN BROOD 



powers. A bravo will climb the heavens 

 in sheer exuberance of spirit, and then 

 descend on stiffly outstretched and down- 

 curved wings at a break- 

 neck speed. As he nears 

 the ground, he shifts the 

 angle slightly and 

 shoots over the surface 

 like a meteor, challeng- 

 ing as he passes, with a 

 wing-rush which leaves 

 the beholder almost 

 dazed. The female 

 sometimes participates 

 in these aerial excursions 

 and enjoys the sport as 

 well as her consort. Nel- 

 son tells of such a pair 

 which attracted his at- 

 tention in the lower Yu- 

 kon country: "Back and 

 forth they passed at a 

 marvelously swift rate of 

 speed, with frequent 

 quick turns and evolu- 

 tions. At one moment 

 they were almost out of 

 view high overhead, and 

 the next saw them skim- 

 ming along the ground 

 in an involved course 

 very difficult to follow 

 with the eye. Ere long 

 a second male joined in 

 the chase, then a third, 

 and so on until six males 

 vied with each other in 

 the pursuit. The origi- 

 nal pursuer appeared to 

 be the only one capable 

 of keeping close to the 

 coy female, and owing to 



1791 



