^°'"i?i'o^^^] Wright, Rare Wild Ducks Wintering at Boston, Mass. 393 



was with these other ducks on Leverett Pond. If he were one of 

 the two Jamaica Pond drakes, his absence had been longer than 

 was that of the ducks of the other species, but it would seem 

 probable that he was one of the two and had rejoined his former 

 companions. The Ring-necked drake was absent from Jamaica 

 Pond after December 27. On January 5, he appeared on Leverett 

 Pond, having joined the others, perhaps on the preceding day. 

 So constantly have these wild ducks been visited by myself and 

 many local observers that little has occurred in connection with 

 them which has not gone on record. When they left Jamaica 

 Pond and I found only the Baldpates on Chestnut Hill reservoir, 

 I concluded that the others had gone for good, and I did not for 

 several days pass through Olmsted Park where Leverett Pond is 

 situated. But I have learned from several observers who did pass 

 through that they came to this pond successively between Jan- 

 uary 2 and 5, all being present on the last date. None were 

 present, I am credibly informed, on January 1 or December 3L 

 It is not improbable that in the brief absence of these ducks be- 

 tween their life on Jamaica Pond and their life on Leverett Pond, 

 except in the case of the Baldpates^ they were on the waters of the 

 Back Bay Fens near the Somerset Hotel, where another park 

 flock of Mallards lives. I have no definite records, however, 

 to show that such was the case. When, however, on February 19 

 they disappeared again for two days, these waters through to the 

 Charles River Basin were carefully searched by several observers, 

 and they reported that the ducks were not there, neither on Chest- 

 nut Hill Reservoir nor on Fresh Pond in Cambridge, where were 

 open waters. Where, therefore, they went in these and subse- 

 quent brief absences has not been ascertained. 



In answer to queries whether any of these ducks spoken of as 

 wild might be park ducks which had escaped, it may be said that 

 the only such source from which any one of them could have come 

 is Franklin Park, where js kept on a small pond during the summer 

 and housed during the winter a collection of ducks consisting of 

 several species. But there are no Baldpates in this collection, 

 neither Canvas-backs, Lesser Scaups, or Ring-necked Ducks. 

 In 1906, so I am informed by the assistant superintendent, a pair 

 of American Widgeon, or Baldpates, was purchased and placed on 



