File:The birds of America - from drawings made in the United States and their territories (1840) (14565130558).jpg

Identifier: birdsofamericafr06audu (find matches)
Title: The birds of America : from drawings made in the United States and their territories
Year: 1840 (1840s)
Authors: Audubon, John James, 1785-1851 Bowen, John T., ca. 1801-1856?, lithographer
Subjects: Birds Birds
Publisher: New York : Published by J.J. Audubon Philadelphia : J.B. Chevalier
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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marinebird. The Pintail Duck, then, was not seen in the parts of that countrywhich I visited; nor was it known in Newfoundland, on the MagdeleineIslands, or in the British province of Nova Scotia, at least along its Atlanticboundaries. In Kentucky and the whole of the Western Country, where itis extremely abundant in early autumn, during winter, and up to a very ad-vanced period in spring, you meet with it wherever its usual food is found.It follows the waters of the Mississippi to New Orleans, is seen westward inthe prairies of Oppelousas, and extends to the eastward as far as Massachu-setts, beyond which, like the Mallard, it is very seldom seen. Indeed, thisspecies is at all times rare on the sea coast of America, and must thereforebe considered as an inland bird. The Pintail, which, in the United States, is better known by the name ofSprigtail, arrives on the western waters early in October, sometimes evenabout the middle of September, the period of its arrival depending on the v
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THE PINTAIL DUCK. 267 state of the weather, or the appearance of other species, with which it keepscompany. 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 theadult birds is as perfect as in the breeding season. On the water, few birds exhibit more graceful motions than the PintailDuck. Its delicately slender neck, the beautiful form of its body, and itspointed tail, which it always carries highly raised, distinguish it from theother species with which it may associate. There seems also a kind of natu-ral modesty in it which you do not find in other Ducks, and its notes, whichare often heard, are soft and pleasant. That these notes should ever havebeen compared to those of the Mallard, appears to me very strange;—sostrange that I am tempted to believe that they who say so must have mis-taken Mallards for Pintails. Whilst with us, the Pintail is found in company with the Baldpate orAmerican Wid

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