. Birds & nature. Birds; Natural history. THE PINTAIL LL the Ducks are interesting, and few species of the feath- ered creation, in shape, color, beauty, and general va- riety of appearance pre- sent more that is attractive to the student of ornithology. Aside from their utility as destroyers of much that is obnoxious to vegetation and useful animal life, and as a desirable, if not indispensable, food for man, they possess characteristics that render them interesting and instructive subjects for investigation and study. Among them this widely distributed fresh water Duck is one of t
. Birds & nature. Birds; Natural history. THE PINTAIL LL the Ducks are interesting, and few species of the feath- ered creation, in shape, color, beauty, and general va- riety of appearance pre- sent more that is attractive to the student of ornithology. Aside from their utility as destroyers of much that is obnoxious to vegetation and useful animal life, and as a desirable, if not indispensable, food for man, they possess characteristics that render them interesting and instructive subjects for investigation and study. Among them this widely distributed fresh water Duck is one of the best known. Its name describes it well. It is one of the first arrivals in the spring. The Pintail haunts wet prair- ies, mud flats, and the edges of reedy, grassy waters, feeding largely upon bulbous roots, tender shoots, insects and their larvae, worms and snails, and, on its return in the fall, upon various seeds, water plants, and grain. Acorns have been frequently taken from the crops of these Ducks. The Pintail, according to Goss, seldom dives, and it never does so while feeding, but in searching in the water for its food immerses not only the head but a large portion of the body. It is an odd sight to see a flock thus tipped up and working their feet in the air, as if trying to stand upon their heads. They move about with a graceful motion of the head, and with tail partially erect, and upon the land step off with a dignity of carriage as if impressed with the thought that they are no common Duck. In flight they are very swift. The nest of the Pintail is placed on low but dry, grassy land and not far from water, usually under the shelter of a bush, and is a mere depres- sion in the ground, lined with grasses and down. There are from seven to eggs ten, of pale green to olive buff, in form oval and ovate. The habitat of the Pintail Duck is the northern hemisphere in general; in North America it breeds from the northern United States northward to Iceland and south in win
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectnaturalhistory
