BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 5 1 



been thrown out to them. The best decoys are those that quack vigorously to 

 each other, and especially to the wandering wildfowl. 



Another manoeuvre which helps greatly to bring in the cautious wild 

 Ducks is the working of the runners, especially if the Ducks have alighted 

 among or near them. The lines inside the blind are quietly and steadily pulled, 

 so that the blocks or live decoys move in a very natural way towards the danger 

 line, or the blocks are pulled back and forth for short distances as if the birds 

 were feeding. At a signal all the gunners in the blind fire at once upon the 

 unsuspecting birds, and the execution, often at close range, is very great. The 

 survivors, if any there be, receive the contents of second barrels and of other 

 guns at hand as they spring into the air or make off. 



A professional gunner is kept on watch at many of the large camps during 

 the season, and, if any of the proprietors are in the camp, he signals by bells 

 the appearance of wild Ducks. If he is alone he shoots the birds himself if he 

 can, and in this way there are very few flocks that leave the pond without pay- 

 ing toll in greater or lesser amount to the treacherous blind. 



An accurate list of the different species of waterfowl killed at the various 

 blinds in Esse.x County would add greatly to our knowledge of the movements 

 and distribution of this interesting class of birds, but it is unfortunately the case 

 that few gunners know or care about the e.xact naming of their feathered game. 

 Their records must therefore be examined with caution. Many birds are called 

 by the wrong names, and such is the confusion of names among the waterfowl 

 that most records are valueless. 



I am therefore fortunate in being able to present the records kept for the 

 last five years, from 1900 to 1904, inclusive, by Dr. John C. Phillips, at his 

 shooting stand at Wenham Lake. The records have been made with great care, 

 and the identifications can be depended upon. I am greatly indebted to Dr. 

 Phillips for his kindness in placing them at my disposal. Many interesting 

 notes from this stand will be found in the Annotated List. Wenham Lake lies 

 two thirds in Wenham and the remaining third in Beverly. It contains about 

 three hundred and twenty acres, and is famous for the crystal clearness of its 

 ice. It suppUes both Beverly and Salem with water. The following is a sum- 

 mary of the waterfowl shot at this stand on Wenham Lake for the five years 

 from 1900 to 1904, inclusive. 



