lO JOURNAI^ OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL vSOCIETY. 



formed by the junction of four rivers, the Kennebec, Androscoggin, 

 Cathance and Abbakadassett. This great fresh water bay, with its 

 rank growth of grass and rushes, its numerous creeks and inlying 

 pond holes, forms an ideal resting and feeding place for the various 

 kinds of water fowl. It is in these waters that I have noticed 

 recently a decided increase in the numbers of certain Ducks formerly 

 considered rare, and this fact has prompted the question at the head 

 of this article, with the hope that others may be able to add to our 

 knowledge concerning their abundance or otherwise in other locali- 

 ties. 



vSome twenty years ago, so I am told, a few gunners living near 

 the bay shore procured some wild rice {zizania aquafiai), from the 

 West, sowing it about the bay as an experiment. This, or rice 

 brought by the birds themselves, has gradually resown itself and 

 spread, until in the fall of 1904 there was a crop of rice never before 

 equalled, affording a sumptuous repast for all the Ducks who cared 

 to come and partake of it. Query. Has this harvest of a favorite 

 food recently discovered caused certain species to deviate from their 

 usual course of migration and tarry here to rest and feed ? In partial 

 answer, allow me briefly to refer to the varieties and numbers of 

 the infrequently met species that came to my notice in and about 

 the bay during the past fall. 



Early in September the Ducks principally in evidence were the 

 Dusky, which had been gathering since August. With them were 

 a few scattered bunches of Blue-wing and Green-wing Teal and an 

 occasional Pintail. As the season advanced these flocks were aug- 

 mented by new^ arrivals, and the rarer varieties would occasionally 

 be seen. By September 15th, those graceful birds, the Pintails, 

 increased, and bunches of five to eight were not unusual. They 

 usually keep by themselves and are unsuspicious of danger as a 

 rule. 



Blue-winged Teal. — The Blue-winged Teal were now flocking 

 in what seemed incredible numbers for this locality. Flocks of fifty, 

 one hundred and even two hundred birds were frequently seen in 

 the air, quartering hither and thither in their swift, nervous flight. 



