PINTAIL DUCK 
BAFILA ACUTA. 
This elegant species appears to be distributed over all suitable parts of the British Islands I have visited. 
While punt-gunning on the firths intersecting the north-eastern shores of the Highlands, in the winters of 1868 
and 1869, I met with considerable numbers, most being seen in early spring. Small parties also occasionally 
put in an appearance on the Norfolk Broads, and a few resorted to the rivers or flooded portions of the flats of 
Pevensey Level and Komney Marsh during the winters I passed in those districts. 
I never succeeded in discovering the nest of the Pintail in this country, though I find in my notes for 1878, 
under date of May 28, that a pair were often observed on and around the hills on Hickling Broad, in the east of 
Norfolk, and that latterly the drake (an exceedingly brightly marked bird) was usually seen alone. I also 
ascertained that, a short time previously, a duck’s nest with eight eggs, supposed to be those of a Shoveller, had 
been taken by a marshman on the same hill these birds frequented. As it is improbable that the natives were 
well acquainted with the eggs of either species, this clutch might possibly have belonged to the Pintail. 
AVhile observing the habits of the fowl on the Dornoch and Cromarty firths, I find by the entries in my 
notes that the first arrivals of Pintails usually took place about the middle of October, and a few birds were 
often obtained about that date while flight-shooting on the Tain Sands. It was not till the close of winter or 
early spring that flocks of this species were observed on the waters of the firths. I never noticed large mixed 
bodies of males and females, seldom more than ten or a dozen being in company when both sexes were 
represented, though thirty, forty, or even fifty drakes were often met with by themselves. On one occasion 
(March 15th, 1869), in the Dornoch Pirth, 1 had sculled a small single punt within about one hundred yards of 
at least a score of fine drakes, and was on the point of firing the big gun, in order to obtain some specimens, 
when the whole were unexpectedly put on wing by several Great Black-backed Gulls swooping over with loud 
screams. These rapacious Gulls having previously been accustomed to secure the cripples disabled by the 
gunners, were by no means satisfied by their first attempt to secure prey, and continued so constantly in 
attendance that all sport for the day was at an end, till I turned my attention to thinning down their numbers, 
when the few survivors gave the punt a wide berth. 
On this part of the coast the few Pintails that remain throughout the winter often join with the immense 
flocks of Wigeon, and are exceedingly conspicuous when the dense mass of fowl arc feeding over the weed-grown 
portions of the sandy flats, their superior size and long white necks at once attracting attention. The local 
punt-gunners have bestowed the name of “ Wigeon-leaders ” upon these birds, on account of their generally 
being a little in advance of the front ranks of the flocks; when on wing also they are invariably in the van. 
On the 7th of April, 1869, I fired a shot with the big gun at two pairs of this species, floating with the tide up 
the Dornoch Pirth, off Morangie, and having secured the four birds, was returning to the shore to load, when 
several seals were noticed within a few hundred yards. Having recharged, I was speedily in pursuit of two 
or three that appeared inquisitive, and a successful shot having been made, the carcass of the unsuspecting 
