■2 7 6 Mackay OJi the Oldsquatv. [October 



when engaged in plucking it their movements while on the 

 ground were far from awkward, in fact rather graceful, as they 

 ran quickly about gathering the grass some of which was still in 

 their mouths when shot. 



Although the Oldsquaw is generally conceded to be a salt water 

 Duck, they will like some others of similar habits frequent fresh 

 water ponds which are near the shore, as also the large inland 

 lakes. Such was the case to a greater extent than I have ever 

 heard of or known before during the latter part of the winter of 

 1892. In the month of March they accumulated in numbers in 

 most of the larger ponds on Nantucket Island, and in two in- 

 stances several frequented very small ponds near the shore. In 

 the Long Pond there were eight hundred (estimated) birds liv- 

 ing, also a large number in the Hummuck and Miacomet Ponds. 

 Their habit was to fly into the ponda- very early in the morning, 

 and fly out about sunset to roost in the sound, or on the ocean. 

 As late as May i I saw several flocks of them, aggregating 

 about one hundred, still living in the above ponds. So accus- 

 tomed had they become to them that it was next to impossible 

 to drive them out, although frequently shot at. Such unwilling- 

 ness to leave is shared by all such sea fowl after they have once 

 become attached to such places. In this vicinity it would seem 

 that they first seek the ponds for shelter during severe and stormy 

 weather, and becoming accustomed to them, continue to frequent 

 them if plenty of food can be obtained. In those ponds most 

 frequented by them on Nantucket Island two kinds of grass grow 

 beneath the surface, both of which these birds eat. The leaf of 

 one of these resembles myrtle ivy, and the other a little pine tree 

 spread. They also find the freshwater clam, those about the size 

 of a quarter of a dollar and smaller being selected. 



Of the Oldsquaws I noticed living in these ponds on May i, 

 1S93, I remarked most of them had not turned into the 

 black plumage to any great extent, yet on April iS, 1S93, of 

 three I shot, an adult male and female, and a young male, the 

 two former were to a great extent turned at that date. The nat- 

 ural inference is that such moult is irregular, and may cover more 

 or less time, each bird being as it were a rule unto itself. 



As an instance (which occurred in the spring) showing the at- 

 tachment of the female for the male (in my experience, most unus- 

 ual) I relate an occasion when a female Oldsquaw returned four 



