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ANATIDJv 
one quite a new idea of a duck ashore. They kept somewhat 
far apart, hut all three happening to meet, the two ducks made 
a sudden and apparently unprovoked attack upon the drake, 
which at once made off for the loch. I was endeavouring to 
shift my position so as to obtain a better view, when a small 
stone in the loose wall against which my hand was resting 
happened to fall with a slight noise, and the two ducks, with- 
out even so much as looking round, rose instantly and Hew to 
the sea, of course accompanied by the drake. Pintails seem 
to be fond of feeding upon the beach, and will often follow 
down the course of a burn as the tide recedes. At high water, 
the feeding-ground being covered, they come inland to the 
lochs with great regularity, though not so regularly returning, 
not having any means of knowing when the tide begins to fall. 
It is said, however, upon good authority, that some species of 
birds are possessed of a peculiar instinct which unerringly 
directs them in these movements. I have had comparatively 
few opportunities of ascertaining the nature of the food of these 
ducks, but have found in the stomach small shells, vegetable 
fibres, fine sea-weed, insects of various kinds, sand and coarse 
gravel — the sand always occurring in large quantities. The 
middle of April is the time at which they usually visit Shet- 
land ; but being early breeders, as dissection affords positive 
proof, they very seldom occur so late in the season as the 
middle of May. At that period the drake exhibits no sign of 
a commencing moult. 
When winged, the Pintail will dive if the water be 
sufficiently deep ; if otherwise, it makes for the land, upon 
which, by the help of the sound wdng, it will run with con- 
siderable speed. When, after a shot has been fired, but one 
survivor remains, it will return again and again, sometimes 
alighting upon the water, whether the bodies of its companions 
have been left there or not. I have often observed its par- 
tiality for shelter in rough weather. Aljout daylight one bitterly 
cold morning in Aj>ril, as I entered an old fishing-booth to 
obtain refuge from tiie stinging sleet, I was met in the door- 
