12 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 70. 



bounded on either side by swamps and marshes, some of which 

 were nearly halt a mile wide. These swamps and marshes are 

 a favorite haunt of many species of wild ducks, and as we pro- 

 ceeded on our way, we saw flocks of Mallards, Black Ducks and 

 Wood Ducks flying about over the water or resting- upon its 

 surface. Once, as the little steamer rounded a, sharp curve on 

 the river, a large flock of " Black Sawbills " (Hooded Mer- 

 gansers) rose from the water with a splash, and flew swiftly 

 off down stream. 



The sight of a flock of wild ducks always appeals very for- 

 cibly to a nature lover or an ornithologist, no matter whether 

 he be gazing from an office window, or looking out from the 

 prow of a canoe in the midst of some wilderness marsh. The 

 fact is that all wild ducks are imbued with the wild, untamable 

 spirit of the primeval wilderness of four hundred years ago, 

 and their wary, furtive habits, their characteristic rapid 

 flight, and their wild picturesque haunts all interest us 

 and take us back to the good old colonial days when 

 North America used to teem with them. Fortunately for 

 ducks and duck students, the numerous Canadian marshes and 

 river? still afford safe breeding places for many species, and 

 as I sat there in the prow of the little steamer watching, as 

 flock after flock of them rose from the water and winged their 

 way swiftly across the marshes, I was thankful indeed that 

 they were so abundant, and so well protected in these, their 

 summer breeding-places. 



Of the land birds that we saw while riding down the river, 

 the swallows were the most numerous, four different species 

 being noted. Three of these, the Barn Swallow, the Bank 

 Swallow and the Purple Martin were old acquaintances of 

 mine ; but the fourth, the Tree Swallow, was practically a 

 stranger. In northeastern Ohio, these birds are only occasion- 

 ally noted during the migrations, but along the Otonabee 

 they were abundant, and could be distinguished from the other 

 species by the steel-blue coloration of their backs and the pure 

 white of their under parts. Their flight, however, closely re- 



