PINTAIL.
I I W Y A D G Y N F F O N F A I N , OF T H E A N C I E N T B R I T I S H.
COMMON PINTAIL. PINTAIL DUCK.
CRACKER. SEA PHEASANT. WINTER DUCK.
Anas acuta. PENNANT. MONTAGU.
Qutrquedula acuta, SKLIW.
DaJUa caudat uta, GOULD.
Anas—A Duck. Acuta—Sharp.
I N Europe this bird is said to be common in Lapland, Russia,
Norway, Sweden. 11 olland, Germany, and France; occurring also in
Spain and Italy. In Asia it has been seen in Siberia, Tartary, Japan,
China, Asia Minor, Persia, and the vicinity of the Caspian Sea. It
belongs also to North America, and is found from Hudson's Bay and
Canada, to the United States, Florida, and Mexico.
The Pintail has been met with in Yorkshire, at Walton and Scarthingwell;
likewise frequently on the high moors near Huddersfield,
and also near York. Edward. Dawson, Esq., of Osgodby Hall, Yorkshire,
has mentioned to me his having known them breed on Skipwith
Common, in 1855. It occurs, but rarely, on Croxby Lake, Lincolnshire,
as the Rev. R. P . Alington has informed me; also at times in Northamptonshire,
the Hon. T . L. Powys says. In Cornwall one was shot
at Pennance Point, near Falmouth, in the year 1845; and a second
at Swanpool, in 1847. In the winter of 185o a large flock of these
birds put in an appearance at Belford, about twilight. In Derbyshire
it occasionally is seen on the Trent; also in Cambridgeshire, Dorsetshire,
Devonshire, rarely, in hard winters, and Hampshire. In Norfolk,
not uncommonly near Yarmouth.
This species has been known to pair with the Common Duck, and
a specimen of the progenv was exhibited before the Zoological Society,