BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 



123 



During the spring and summer, flocks of Black Ducks visit the salt marshes at 

 night, and return westward to the fresh marshes in the day, probably to hide 

 and sleep. Thus on August 13th, 1903, at 4.30 p. m., a flock of from 15 to 20 

 Black Ducks flew from the west and settled in the salt marshes near Hog 

 Island. On August 14th, a flock of 40 did the same. On August 16th, I 

 noted a flock of about 40 descend into the same place at 4 p. m. Again on 

 April 23d, 1904, Mr. Dodge told me that he saw a flock of 30 or 40 Black 

 Ducks flying westward over the railroad station at Hamilton, at 7 a. m., appar- 

 ently bound for the Topsfield marshes. These had evidently spent the night in 

 the salt marshes. 



In winter, the loud quacking of these Ducks can be heard as they feed in 

 numbers in the salt marshes at night. In pleasant weather, although a few 

 remain concealed in the smaller creeks, nearly all fly out about sunrise to rest 

 during the clay on the ocean. In stormy weather many spend the day in the 

 marshes, feeding and flying about. When they fly out in the morning, they 

 begin to go before it is light and continue until the sun is well up. In the 

 creeks, they may be seen feeding in the shallow water, occasionally tipping their 

 tails high in the air in their efforts to reach some choice morsel. Wounded 

 birds hide in the water and grass and occasionally dive. I have seen semi- 

 domesticated Black Ducks while courting, occasionally dive completely under 

 water. Dr. Phillips tells me that he has twice seen Black Ducks dive at the 

 flash, and coming up, rise directly on the wing. One of these he shot so that 

 there could have been no mistake in the bird. Their bodies are so well pro- 

 tected by their feathers and wings, that it is said to be impossible to kill Black 

 Ducks when they are feeding with heads under water. 



It is a common idea among gunners that Black Ducks detect a man's 

 presence by the sense of smell and this is confirmed by D. G. Elliot. 1 I have 

 too great respect for the keen eyesight of this Duck to think that it needs the 

 sense of smell and I am very skeptical on this point. I have been in a blind 

 with three other men and have seen Black Ducks walk up on a beach within 

 twenty feet of us without showing any sign of suspecting our presence. In 

 this case the wind was blowing from us to the Ducks, but we were thoroughly 

 concealed. On another occasion I approached, walking down the wind, within 

 fifty yards of eight Black Ducks and they did not rise till they saw me. They 

 were in a pool and were entirely hidden from me by a high sand dune. If they 

 had been conscious of my presence by smell they would have departed long 

 before. 



During the winter, one of the most interesting sights on the beaches is a 



1 D. G. Elliot: The Wild Fowl of the United States and British Possessions, p. 106, 1898. 



