SPECIES'!. ANAS ACUTA. 
PINTAIL DUCK. 
[Plate LXVIIL— Fig. 3.] 
Z,e Canard a longue queue, Bris. vi, p. 369. 16. pi. 54. jig. 1, 2. — 
Buff, ix, p. 199. pi. 13. — Pi. Enl. 954. — Arct. Zool. No. 500. — 
L/Vth. Syn. ni,p. 526. — Peale’s Museum, No, 2806. 
The Pintail, or as it is sometimes called, the Sprigtail, is a 
common and well known Duck in our markets, much esteemed 
for the excellence of its flesh, and is generally in good order. 
It is a shy and cautious bird, feeds in the mud flats, and shallow 
fresh water marshes; but rarely resides on the seacoast. It sel- 
dom dives, is very noisy, and has a kind of chattering note. 
When wounded they will sometimes dive, and coming up con- 
ceal themselves under the bow of the boat, moving round as it 
moves. Are vigilant in giving the alarm on the approach of the 
gunner, who often curses the watchfulness of the Sprigtail. Some 
Ducks when aroused disperse in different directions; but the 
Sprigtails when alarmed cluster confusedly together as they 
mount, and thereby afford the sportsman a fair opportunity of 
raking them with advantage. They generally leave the Dela- 
ware about the middle of March, on the way to their native re- 
gions the north, where they are most numerous. They inhabit 
the whole northern parts of Europe and Asia, and doubtless the 
corresponding latitudes of America. Are said likewise to be 
found in Italy. Great flocks of them are sometimes spread along 
the isles and shores of Scotland and Ireland, and on the interior 
lakes of both these countries. On the marshy shores of some of 
the bays of lake Ontario they are often plenty in the months of 
October and November. I have also met with them at Louis- 
ville on the Ohio. 
VOL. III. — R r 
