. . the west beganmore than two hundred years later than on the Atlanticcoast. Western-bred birds of this species reach the coastmainly south of the Chesapeake. This Duck breeds mainly in habitable regions, and as itis the equal of the famed Canvas-back on the table, it willbecome extinct in North America unless rigidly protected. Audubon states that repeated inspections of stomachs ofthis species disclosed leeches, small fish, earthworms andsnails. It feeds also on aquatic plants, grasses, grass seedsand bulbs, which it procures alo
. . the west beganmore than two hundred years later than on the Atlanticcoast. Western-bred birds of this species reach the coastmainly south of the Chesapeake. This Duck breeds mainly in habitable regions, and as itis the equal of the famed Canvas-back on the table, it willbecome extinct in North America unless rigidly protected. Audubon states that repeated inspections of stomachs ofthis species disclosed leeches, small fish, earthworms andsnails. It feeds also on aquatic plants, grasses, grass seedsand bulbs, which it procures along the shores of small pondswhich it frequents. It often feeds by wading and dabblingin the mud, straining mud and water through its peculiarlyconstructed bill. Dr. Hatch states that it feeds on aquatic insects, larvae,tadpoles, worms, etc., which it finds in shallow, muddy waters;also crustaceans, small mollusks and snails. 102 GAME BIRDS. WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. PINTAIL (Dafda acuta).Common or local names: Gray Duck; Sprigtail; Picket-tail; Pheasant Male. Length. —Variable; 20 to 30 inches. Adult Male. — Head, throat and upper part of fore neck rich dark brown;hind neck black, passing into gray of back and separated from foreneck by a white stripe, which extends upward from the white lowerfore neck and under parts; speculum or wing patch bronze, with green-ish reflections, deepening into black behind; speculum bordered by abar of cinnamon before it and a white bar behind; long black feathers,edged with light silvery gray, extending from shoulder down the wing;narrow wavy dark cross lines extend over most of the gray of flanksand back; tail pointed; middle tail-feathers, five to nine inches long,and black; feathers under tail black; bill and feet slate; iris brown. Adult Female. — Top and sides of head, and back and sides of neck lightbrownish, speckled and streaked with dusky; back brown, the featherswith dark centers and light edges; wing having the two bars
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Keywords: ., bookauthorjobherbe, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1912
