2 
PINTAIL DUCK. 
denizen of our firtlis was dragged to Die nearest sand-bank, and at lengtli, after considerable labour, stowed 
away under the stern-deck of the punt. On my way back, another duck and drake Pintail came in view, and 
while sculling up for a shot, the sound of cracking timbers caught my ear, and on looking round I discovered 
that the supposed defunct seal showed signs of life, and having raised his bead and shoulders, the after-deck 
was much strained and almost wrenched from its fastenings. Well aware that no time could be lost 
I picked up a small breech-loading rifle, and a bullet through the head at once restored quiet; luckily the 
water was not above two feet in depth, and the sands were soon reached in safety without further mishap. 
This seal proved to be exceedingly heavy, and yielded, when the blubber was cut off and boiled down, just over 
three gallons of oil *. 
A party of Pintail drakes when feeding on a rush-grown pool, with their heads straight down under water 
and their long pointed tails elevated in the air, present a most singular appearance. I have frequently watched 
numbers engaged in this manner on a small muddy loch near Uearn, in lloss-shire, that was almost over- 
stocked with eels f . 
Though usually consorting with Wigeon, this species at times joins in company with Mallard. I find in 
my notes under date of November 4, 1871, while shooting on llickling Broad, in the east of Norfolk, that, after 
having placed out several of our floating dummies J, a small party of about a dozen fowl wheeled round 
and pitched near at hand, allowing the punt to scull up within range before they rose on wing; on collecting 
the five that fell dead to the shot, they proved to be four IVild Ducks and a Pintail Duck. Though usually 
watchful, I have on two or three occasions remarked that this species appeared entirely off their guard. While 
sculling up to a mixed flock of Wigeon and Pochard, on llickling Broad, on the 5th of March, 1873, I passed 
within ten yards of a eouple of pairs of Pintails — ducks and drakes both keeping their beaks covered in the 
plumage of their backs, and making not the slightest attempt to rise, or oven to paddle further out of our 
course. 
A reference to the seals sliot in this firth, and the manner in which the oil extracted was disposed of, will bo found on page 3 of the Brent 
Goose. 
t In this district, as well as in many other parts of the Highlands, the natives evince a strong and incomprehensible dislike to an eel ; 
consequentlj this excellent fish remains free from persecution, and increases in size and numbers. At this small piece of water (known in Gaelic 
by some unpronounceable name signifying the “ muddy loch ’b the eels, at the time of my visit in the spring of 1869, were positively swarming in 
the shallows ; and while wading through the soft mud and reeds, from one bank or point to another, several, apparently from five or six pounds in 
weight, or possibly even considerably heavier, would bo driven from the shelter into which they had made their way. After causing a great 
commotion beneath the surface and among the weeds, they would eventually disappear in the depths of these almost bottomless swamps. 
+ These were wooden models representing Ducks, carved out of yellow pine, and well coated with paint in order to exclude the damp. It was 
Bome■^^hat singular that the fowl attracted by these dummies did not take the slightest notice of their colouring. The men who constructed them 
were by no means artistic, and I had intended to give a few finishing touches before they were made use of ; it was, however, soon discovered that 
this addition was perfectlj- unnecessary. In order to keep our decoys upright when afloat, a leaden weight was fixed under the belly, and a 
ring screwed into the breast to hold the anchor-line for mooring and to enable the wooden birds to ride head to wind. The deception is then 
perfect, and many a charge of shot have our dummies received from passing gunners when left unguarded on waters where the shooting was 
not preserved. 
