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stretched out at full length along its surface, in order most 

 probably to be less seen by an enemy from the land ; when 

 winged, it mostly performs this feat. Its flight is quicker 

 than that of the mallard, probably owing to its more slender 

 shape. 



The best manner for a sportsman to approach the Pintail 

 is by means of a boat among the rushes, and a good water- 

 spaniel. Decoys are the best for the capture of all ducks, as 

 before described. 



The breeding localities of the Pintail are lakes, ponds, and 

 seas, that are in some parts thickly overgrown with reeds and 

 rushes. The birds are paired in April, and build their nest 

 either on some matted rushes in the midst of the reeds, or on 

 some other dry patch, and not unfrequently among the grass 

 near a ditch, or among the standing corn ; but invariably so 

 well concealed that it is only by chance that it is found out. 



The eggs are generally eight or nine in one nest, although 

 ten have been found ; the parent bird shews so much soli- 

 citude for her eggs that she will remain on the nest, on the 

 approach of danger, to the last moment. After two or three 

 and twenty days the young brood make their appearance, and 

 follow the mother on the liquid element. 



The adult male measures twenty-six inches ; the beak two 

 inches from the forehead ; the tarsus one inch seven lines ; 

 the middle toe two inches four lines ; the wing, from the 

 carpus to the tip ten inches six lines. The head, chin, and 

 throat are hair-brown, with a narrow band of rose-purple 

 behind the ears ; lower part of the neck, and a streak on 

 each side reaching to the nape, white ; the nape and hinder 

 part of the neck dusky-brown ; the breast and belly white. 

 The flanks and thighs transversely lined with black on a white 

 ground ; the vent and under tail-coverts deep black ; the 

 back is greyish-white, pencilled with black ; scapulars black ; 



