THE PINTAIL 
By HERBERT K. JOB 
The National Association of Audubon Societies 
Educational Leaflet No. 76 
Manitoba 
Marshes 
Along the wild shores of Lake Winnipegosis, in northern Manitoba, 
in a region known as the Waterhen River Country, extends a wide belt 
of bog and meadow, back of which lies the unbroken, primeval, poplar 
forest. This forest abounds in moose and deer, and there covies of Ruffed 
Grouse whir up before one into the low trees with surprising frequency, 
and gaze curiously at their first sight of man. The interminable strip of 
marsh by the lake harbors throngs of waterfowl of many kinds. Much of 
it is overgrown with a bewildering maze of reed, rush, 
and cane, dissected by narrow, winding, waterways, 
here and there uniting in open ponds. This is the 
home of such birds as the various Grebes, the Loon, Black Tern, Bittern, 
and the Canvasback, Redhead, and Ruddy Ducks. Other parts are more 
open and meadow-like. In one part this meadow is alkaline, and a series 
of shallow, brackish ponds and pools with muddy margins extends for 
many miles. Although the clouds of mosquitos bred in these pools are 
dreadful, compensations are present. Along these shores, late in May, 
feed tribes of migratory shore-birds in elegant nuptial plumage — Sand- 
pipers, Plovers, the Lesser Yellowlegs, some Marbled Godwits, an occa- 
sional Hudsonian Godwit, an American Avocet, or a pretty party of 
Northern Phalaropes, swimming like tiny geese. 
Out in the middle of the pools flocks of ducks disport themselves — all 
breeding in the vicinity. They are not very wild, and one may readily 
approacli them behind tall grass or bushes, and, with a field-glass, see 
each one as clearly as though it were actually in hand. They are of the 
kind which prefers the shallow, open pools of the prairie sloughs. The 
males are in gaudy spring livery. All swim in mated pairs, each of 
which has its nest hidden not far away in the old grass of the past season. 
Some are still laying eggs, and the partial sets are 
cleverly covered with a blanket of down plucked by 
the female from the under surface of her body. 
Others have covered their brooded eggs, and are out for a restful swim 
and luncheon with the lordly head of the house, who is too aristocratic 
to take his turn on the eggs, and will soon forsake his spouse to moult 
off his finery in remote recesses of the tangled bog. Conspicuous by 
large size among this company are some Mallards, contrasting sharply 
with the small Blue-winged and Green-winged Teals. That gaudy drake 
of moderate size, and his plain spouse, both with enormous bills, are 
Spoonbills or Shovelers. A few Gadwalls and American Widgeons also 
Domestic 
Life 
301 
