DAFILA ACUTA.
Pintailed Duck.
Anas acuta, Linn. Faun. Suec., p. 44.
—— caudacuta, Leach, Syst. Cat. of Indig. Mamm. and Birds in Coll. Brit. Mus., p. 38.
Dafila caudacuta, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xii. p. 127, pi. 49.
acuta, Eyton, Hist, of Rarer Brit. Birds, p. 60.
Anas longicauda (Briss.), Brehm, Vög. Deutschi., p. 868.
caudata, Brehm, ibid., p. 869.
Trachelonetta acuta, Kaup, Natiirl. Syst., p. 115.
Querquedula acuta, Selb. 111. Brit. Orn., vol. ii. p. 311.
----------------caudacuta, Macgill. Man. of Nat. Hist. Orn., vol. ii. p. 170.
Phasianurus acutus, Wagl. Isis, 1832, p. 1235.
A mo n g the British members o f the Amtidee, or family o f Ducks, there are three species which have especial
claims to our notice : these are the Mallard, the Teal, and the Pintail. From the first have sprung all our
domestic varieties, the excellence o f whose flesh need not be dwelt upon ; neither is it necessary to speak in
praise o f the delicate flavour of that of the little T ea l; equal, if not superior, to both, is the flesh of the Pintail,
a bird which is characterized by a greater elegance o f form, and a more pleasing contour, than either of
its congeners— one, moreover, which sits on the water with especial grace, and swims with unusual speed.
All three species assimilate in the readiness with which they become partially domesticated, imparting life
to our lakes and ornamental waters, in their wide and almost general distribution over the globe, and in the
total change o f costume which takes place at opposite seasons o f the year. The plumage o f the Pintail,
though not so gay and contrasted as that of the Mallard or the Teal, is very pleasing, from its chaste and
harmonious colouring ; in Jprm the bird is slender and elegant, its neck being considerably lengthened, and
its two central tail-feathers prolonged to such an extent as to have obtained for it the name o f Sea-Pheasant.
How great is the contrast between the long central tail-feathers of this species, and the short curled ones of
the Mallard!
In the British Wands the Pintail is very loca l; and although our eastern decoys supply the markets of
London with a goodly number about a month before and after Christmas-time, few are either taken or shot
at other seasons. Montagu states that it is most abundant in the north of England and Scotland, and especially
in the Orkney Wands. “ This assertion, however,” says Mr. Selby, “ I must in part contradict, as the
result o f long observation tells me it is o f rare occurrence in the northern counties of England ; and the same
may be said of the southern districts o f Scotland.” Montagu’s assertion, however, with regard to the Orkneys,
is confirmed by the late Robert Dunn, who states that it is tolerably plentiful there, particularly in the island
of Sanda, where it frequents the inland lakes more than the sea-shore, and leaves early in spring; he never
met with it in the neighbouring Shetlands. In Cornwall, Mr. Bodd tells us that it is common at the Land’s
End in severe weather.
“A winter visitant to this country,” says Yarrell,. “ it remains here till the spring, and is obtained by wildfowl
shooters on the coast as well as by fenmen on the rivers and lakes of the interior. It is one o f the first
species taken when the decoys begin to be worked in O c to b e r .* In Ireland it is a regular winter visitant in
small numbers, and, as in England, is locally distributed. With regard to its distribution over other parts
of the world, I may mention that it is tolerably common in North Africa, in the Grecian Wands, and thence
throughout Europe, from the Mediterranean to the extreme north of Lapland, in Palestine, Asia Minor,
throughout India, the Amoorland, China, Formosa, and Japan; in America it is found from the fur-countries
. to Honduras, and, doubtless, in all those parts of Mexico that are suitable to its habits. In confirmation of
this vast extent o f range, I may qnote the following authorities.
Mr. E. C. Taylor, Dr. Leith Adams, and Mr. S. S. Allen, all enumerate it among the birds of Egypt;
Captain Loche states that it inhabits the three provinces of Algeria; the Rev. Mr. Tristram mentions that
specimens were shot near the brook Kedron, in Palestine ; Mr. Jerdon says it is one of the most numerous
winter visitants to India, frequenting large tanks and jheels, often in immense flocks; Mr. Swinhoe includes
it in the lists o f birds seen by him at Amoy, and between Takoo and Peking, in China, and in the island of
Formosa;. Captain Blakiston and Mr. H. Whitely in the birds of Japan ; Von Schrenck in those of Amoorland
; Dr. Walker obtained specimens, during the voyage of the ‘ Fox,’ at Godhaven, in Greenland ; Captain
Blakiston in British North America ; Mr. Brown includes it in his ‘ Synopsis o f the Birds of Vancouver s
Island; ’ Dr. Baird states that it is found over the whole o f North America; and Mr. Salvin saw it at Belize,
and observed it to be common on the Lake of Duenas during winter.