406 
ANATIDiE. 
the same marsh, and in a little wooded island of a few 
yards in circuit, a duck rose almost under my feet, and I 
shot it, feeling sure that it was a Pintail, as it proved to 
he. There were six eggs a day or two sat upon. The 
nest was made of a few twigs mixed and lined with down 
from the mother’s breast. They are usually made of long 
bleached grass, or any thing that comes to hand. This 
bird breeds generally in marshes, and not very near large 
pieces of water. The eggs seem to be usually six or seven 
in number. The Pintail is one of the earliest breeders 
amongst the ducks. They appear as soon as the water 
begins to open, and may be seen standing in pairs at the 
edge of the ice. As soon as the ducks are hard sitting 
the drakes go about in flocks, having apparently deserted 
their mates.” 
The egg figured is from the collection of Mr. Wolley. 
