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COMMON PINTAIL. 
more unfrequent in the south. It extends to Asia : 
specimens received from Mr. Jerdon do not differ 
from those of Britain, and that gentleman states 
that they are “ tolerably abundant towards the more 
northern parts of the peninsula, rare in the south, 
found in large flocks.” 
In the New World it is noticed in the works of 
Wilson and Audubon ; by the latter it is said to be 
rare on the coast, and is considered as an inland 
bird. It is migratory in many parts, and does not 
extend so far north as many other species. “ In 
Kentucky, and the whole of the western country, 
it is extremely abundant in early autumn, during 
winter, and up to a very advanced period in spring ; 
it follows the waters of the Mississippi, is seen west- 
ward to the prairies of the Oppelousas, and eastward 
to Massachussets, beyond which it is seldom seen ; 
they extend to Florida." It is said to be extremely 
fond of beech-mast, and in search after it even 
rambles a short way into the woods. 
In the male the colours are very decidedly marked : 
the head, throat, and fore part of the upper neck 
are umber-brown ; on the crown, with the feathers 
having pale tips, and on the hind head and sides of 
the head and auriculars, having a bright purple gloss ; 
the hind lioad shades gradually into deep greenish 
black, forming a dark nuchal stripe joining with the 
grey plumage of the upper parts ; the fore part of 
the neck, breast, and belly, are white, that colour 
running up in a narrow lateral stripe between the 
umber-brown throat and dark nape ; on the belly, 
