DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 37 



corded nest from New Jersej' as found in 1877. Two hours in 

 ambush, part of whicli time I spent in search for Joe, who had 

 been frenzied by the sight of a deer, failed to secure the bird. 

 Both were seen for most of this time soaring over the meadows 

 at high altitude, but only once did one come within gunshot. 

 That descent was described bj' my brother as a most peculiar 

 performance. Just preceeding it the bird, probably the female 

 by its size, had been but a speck miles off in a cloud-flecked sky. 

 Suddenly it changed its soaring motion and mounted spirally 

 aloft, ^^'hen almost out of sight, it poised for some seconds. 

 Noticing that it was gradually growing larger, my brother be- 

 came aware that the bird was coming directly for her nest. 

 With such inconceivable rapidity were those miles of distance 

 covered that almost before he could get ready to aim, the bird 

 had reached the point, and was sweeping down a stump-bord- 

 ered opening " like a feathered cannon-ball." Without pause 

 or slacking it came straight on, and so confused him that he 

 forgot to wait, and fired two shots at it when only twenty feet 

 away. Of course it was a miss, and no amount of waiting 

 thereafter secured another chance. Several times one of the 

 birds did begin the same evolution, but lost courage at the point 

 and sheered obliqueh' back. We decided to take the eggs for 

 fear the Fish Crows hovering about might pounce upon them 

 before the Hawks recovered from their timidity. 



Nine days later. May 22d, with an entirely' different party, I 

 made another trip to Griscom Swamp. The day began with 

 clouds and ended with heavy rain. Though not a hot day the 

 humidity was terrific. We reached the Pine Point without 

 other incident than going a mile bej'ond it. We entered at the 

 same spot we had nine days before. Having reached the edge 

 of the miniature marsh just where the Marsh Hawk had first 

 startled me, I was in the act of pointing out the nest to my 

 companions when a fluttering noise back of me whirled me 

 about instanter. A Black Duck had jumped almost at my feet 

 and was whirring at high velocity down the same line of dead 

 stumps pursued by the Marsh Hawk. I was instantly alert to 

 possibilities. Black Ducks were common enough, but not at 

 this season, and a nest would be a rare find. Not for years had 



