196 
ANAS ACUTA. 
and various parts of France and Italy; migrates to 
Sweden, and is found throughout Russia and Siberia.* 
It is a very quick diver, so as to make it difficult to be 
shot ; flies also with great rapidity, and utters a note 
not unlike that of the mallard, but louder. Is fond of 
salines and ponds overgrown with reeds and rushes. 
Feeds during the day, as well as in the morning and 
evening. 
261 . ANAS ACUTA , LINNJEUS AND WILSON. — PINTAIL DUCK. 
WILSON, PLATE LXVIII. FIG. Ill EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
The pintail, or, as it is sometimes called, the sprigtaib 
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 sea coast. It seldom dives, is 
very noisy, and has a kind of chattering note. When 
wounded, they will sometimes dive, and, coming up, 
conceal 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 sprig- 
tails, when alarmed, cluster confusedly together as they 
mount, and thereby afford the sportsman a fair oppor- 
tunity of raking them with advantage. They generally 
leave the Delaware about the middle of March, on the 
way to their native regions, the north, where they are 
most numerous. They inhabit the whole northern 
parts of Europe and Asia, and, doubtless, the corres- 
ponding 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 
* Latham. 
