UPLAND SHOOTING. 
131 
Scotia, at least along its Atlantic boundaries. In Kentucky, and 
the whole of the Western country, where it is extremely abund¬ 
ant in early autumn, during winter, and up to a very advanced 
period in spring, you meet with it wherever its usual food is to 
be found. It follows the waters of the Mississippi to New Or¬ 
leans, is seen westward in the prairies of Oppelousas, and 
extends to the eastward as far as Massachusetts, beyond which, 
like the Mallard, it is very rarely seen. Indeed, this species is 
at all times rare on the seacoast of the Atlantic, and must there¬ 
fore be regarded as an inland bird. 
“ The Pintail, which, in the United States, is better known 
by the name of Sprigtail, arrives on the Western waters early 
in October, sometimes even in September ; the period of its ar¬ 
rival depending on the state of the weather, or the appearance 
of other species with which it keeps company. Their plumage 
is in fine condition when they arrive; their tail feathers are then 
as long as at any other period, and the whole apparel of the 
adult bird is as perfect as in the breeding season. 
“ Whilst with us, the Pintail is found in company with the 
Baldpate or American Widgeon, the Blue-Winged Teal, and the 
Mallard ; more frequently on ponds than on streams ; although 
it sometimes resorts to the latter, when their shores are over¬ 
hung with beech-trees, loaded with their nutritious fruits, of 
which this species is extremely fond, and in search of which 
they even ramble a short distance into the woods. Were this 
Duck to feed entirely on beech mast, I have no doubt that its 
flesh would be excellent. It feeds on tadpoles in spring, on 
leeches in autumn; while, during the winter, a dead mouse, 
should it come in its way, is swallowed with as much avidity as 
by a Mallard. To these articles of food it adds insects of all 
kinds ; and, in fact, is by no means an inexpert fly-catcher. 
u The Pintails are less shy in the Western country than most 
species of their family; and in this respect they resemble the 
Blue-Winged Teals ; which, in fact, might be called stupid birds, 
with as much propriety as many others. They swim rather 
deeply, keep close together, and raise the hind part of the body 
