I 
THE PINTAIL. 279 
It has a considerable range, being found according to season in most 
parts of Asia and Europe, Northern Africa and on the eastern coast of 
North America. It is spread over the Indian peninsula and China in 
winter, but has not yet been found further south^ except as a straggler in 
Borneo. 
The Wigeon is a winter visitor^ and is no doubt rare in Burmah com- 
pared with other Ducks. 
The female may be recognized at a glance from the females of other 
ducks by the colour of the bill, which is small and tipped with black. 
Genus DAFILA, Swains. 
641. DAFILA ACUTA. 
THE PINTAIL. 
Anas acuta, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 202 ; Bl. B. Burm. p. 166 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, 
p. 1076. Dafila acuta, Jerd. B. hid. ii, p. 803 ; Dresser, Birds Eur. vi. p. 531, 
pi. ; Hume, S. F. iii. p. 193 ; Scully, S. F. iv. p. 200 ; David et Oust. Ois. Chine, 
p. 498 ; Hume 8f Dav. S. F. vi. p. 489 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 115 Scully, S. F. 
viii. p. 363 ; Hume ^' Marsh. Game Birds, iii. p. 189, pi. ; Oates, S. F. x. p. 245. 
Description. — Male. Forehead and crown rich nmber-brown ; remainder 
of head and upper neck plain brown ; lower neck, breast and abdomen 
pure white, the white of the neck continued upwards in two streaks to the 
nape ; the hind neck between these streaks blackish ; lower hind neck, 
back, rump and upper tail-coverts marked with narrow undulating lines of 
black and white, the upper tail-coverts with the outer webs chiefly black ; 
tail ashy brown, the lengthened central feathers black ; scapulars black 
edged with grey; wing-coverts and primaries ashy brown, the greater 
series of coverts tipped with clear bulf; secondaries glossy green, with a 
subterminal band of black and broad white tips ; tertiaries ashy brown, 
with the central portion of each feather blackish ; sides of the body barred 
with black and white like the back ; lower abdomen and vent white stippled 
with brown ; under tail-coverts black. 
The female has the whole head and neck fulvous -white streaked with 
brown, the crown and hind neck darker than the other parts ; the upper 
plumage and wing-coverts dark brown edged with rufous, and the feathers 
of the back also with double bar-like spots on the centres ; greater wing- 
coverts tipped with white as those of the male are with bufl" ; secondaries 
