202 Job, Ducks of Plymouth Co., Mass. I July 



The Scaup Ducks occur both on the coast and in the ponds. 

 A. marila is much more abundant than A. affinis, and is one of 

 the most common species in the larger ponds, next so, perhaps, 

 to Anas obscura. Each autumn, from the middle of October 

 until the ice forms, there is in Assowompsett a great gathering 

 of these ducks, marila predominating, very shy, flying from one 

 pond to the other, when pursued. 



The closely related Ring-neck Duck {A. collar is) occurs but 

 rarely. I noted two this fall, a pair, Nov. 23, which swam in 

 to the decoys at the Nippenickett stand and were secured. 

 Mr. Wood has noted several captures in the last ten years. 



The Golden-eye ( Glaucionetta dangula americand) is common 

 on the coast and in the ponds in fall and winter. Its miniature, 

 the Buffle-head (Charitonetta albeola), though not so common, is 

 often seen in autumn both on salt and fresh water, and in -the 

 winter is quite frequent on the coast. In October and November 

 they appear in the ponds in small flocks or singly, and are often 

 surprisingly tame. 



A single instance of the capture of Barrow's Golden-eye ( C. 

 islandicd) is given me by Mr. Wood. A fine male was sent to 

 him to be mounted, in the autumn of (about) 1885, shot in 

 Plymouth, whether in fresh water or on the coast not being 

 stated. 



The Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis), that prince of flyers, 

 is a familiar sight as it goes scaling past the points. It often 

 comes into the ponds in autumn, in flocks or bunches. Mr. 

 Bassett and I shot nine out of a flock of eleven in Nippenickett, 

 Nov. 12, 1894, following them up in a row-boat. They could 

 not be driven from the pond. 



Three specimens of the Harlequin Duck {Histrionica histri- 

 onicd) were taken off Manomet Point, Nov. 3, 1894. One of 

 these is in my collection. This is the only record for this 

 county with which I am acquainted. The species is common at 

 Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, where it is known as the ' Rock Duck.' 



One of the few ducks never as yet known to occur in our ponds 

 is the Eider {Somateria mollissima dresseri). It is notably a ma- 

 rine bird, being commonly known as the ' Sea Duck.' Com- 

 paratively few come into Cape Cod Bay, most of them keeping 



