The Pintail 
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about two years, to see whether his plumage would be exactly the same as 
that of the bird of 1895, and it was so. As I did not want more than one 
specimen I sent the second one to the Zoo. The female hybrid was a very beauti- 
ful bird ; in shape she was most symmetrical and graceful, and in colour 
seemed to possess the rich colour and delicacy of marking of the Magellanic 
goose. Unfortunately, it escaped pinioning, and went away the following 
spring. She returned, however, in August, and spent the winter with us ; but 
I could not catch her, and after the next migration she departed and never 
returned. I never had any more hybrids, nor did I notice any further 
disposition on the part of the Wigeon and Pintail to molest each other. The 
drake hybrid which I now have pairs every year with a pure Pintail duck, 
and pays no attention to the female Wigeon ; as yet he has had no progeny, 
but this may be due to the fact that none of the eggs laid by the Pintail 
duck have been reared. In plumage this male hybrid is roughly as follows. 
He partakes of the dress of both parents, but is a bright handsome bird and 
looks like a distinct species ; in form he is like the Pintail ; in the eclipse 
plumage he is not such a rich brown as the Wigeon, nor so grey as the 
Pintail. He comes into full plumage again about the middle of September, 
i.e. about a fortnight earlier than the adult individuals of either of the species 
from whom he is descended.' 
Sir Edward has also reason to believe that the Pintail of Europe has 
once paired with the Chilian Pintail. 
The Plumage of the Pintail 
Adult Male — In winter dress. — Weight 2 lbs. 10 ozs. ; length (largest 
specimens) 29 inches ; wing 12 inches. Bill, legs, and feet slate-grey; head 
brown, shading into green over black on the nape; neck at the back bronze, 
working down to grey; on each side of the neck a white stripe extending to 
the white breast ; flanks and back grey, and reticulated with fine black lines ; 
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