BRITISH BIRDS. 
362 
the vent, are of a dull white, obfcurely fpotted with 
brown. The tail is long and pointed, but the two 
middle feathers do not extend themfelves beyond 
the reft, like thofe of the male. 
Thefe birds do not vifit the temperate and warm 
climates in great numbers, except in very fevere win^ 
ters, the great bulk of them dropping fliort, and 
remaining during that feafon in various parts of the 
Ruffian dominions, Sweden, Norway, &c. and al? 
fo in the fame latitudes in both Afia and America. 
They ^e feldom numerous in England, but flocks 
of them are fometimes abundantly fpread along the 
ifles and fliores of Scotland and Ireland, and on the 
interior lakes of both thofe countries, as well as 
thofe of the continent as far fouth as Italy, and in 
America as far fouth as New York. They are 
efteemed excellent eating. 
The Pintail Duck is of a taller or more lengthen? 
ed fhape than any of the fpecies, and, in the opini- 
on of the Count de Buffon, feems to form the link 
between the Duck and the Garganey. 
