JOURNAL OF MAINE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 13 



They seem to gather in rather larger flocks than the Gadwall, 

 twenty-five or thirty together not being uncommon. Both these 

 latter species were quite numerous for a short time, and I am 

 inclined to class them as common migrants in these waters from late 

 in October to about November 5th. I fully expect to see the 

 European Widgeon {anas pcnclope) taken here at no distant day. 



The Gadwall and Widgeon are very closely related, and from 

 an epicurean standpoint, in my humble opinion, no web-footed fowl 

 can surpass them in excellency as a table bird, when properly 

 served, and their appearance in Maine waters ought to be hailed 

 with the greatest satisfaction. 



Two Thousand Ducks. — I wish the readers of the Journal 

 could have been with me on the Kennebec river October 27th last, 

 that they might have enjoyed an object lesson upon the subject of 

 water fowl in Maine. On that day there was "l^edded" in the river 

 between Brown's Point and the lower end of Swan Island not less 

 than two thousand Ducks and probably more, the aggregate being 

 made up of easily defined flocks of Black Ducks, Redheads, Ameri- 

 can Scaup, I^esser Scaup, Mallards, Widgeon, Gadwalls and Ruddy 

 Ducks, and probably other varieties. These birds had been har- 

 assed for weeks, gradually becoming shy of gunning floats, and 

 had taken refuge in the deep open water. Here they rested during 

 the day, secure from molestation, for, long before a float could 

 approach within gunshot, those nearest would take wing, and then, 

 after a moment's hesitation, the entire flock would rise with a roar 

 like a mighty cataract or a swiftly moving railroad train, and, flying 

 up the river a quarter of a mile, would settle upon the water again. 



In closing, permit me to make mention of the only Duck that is 

 now met wdth more rarely than formerly, and they stand alone as 

 the one species evidently decreasing. I refer to that beautiful 

 Bridal Duck, the Wood Duck {aix sponsa), they of the unsurpassed 

 plumage, clothed as they are in a veritable Joseph's coat of many 

 colors. I fear these birds are nearing extinction, as during the past 

 two years I have failed to observe a single specimen in the bay or 

 elsewhere. Verily " 'Tis pity, and pity 'tis 'tis true." But we 



