406 Wright, Rare Wild Ducks Wintering at Boston, Mass. [oct! 



on April 2 and by me on April 4. It remained to April 15. The 

 captured coot was still at Franklin Park and swimming about 

 on the waters of the pond there with the collection of ducks and 

 geese when this coot appeared on Jamaica Pond. 



The little company wintering on Leverett Pond, which has much 

 interested the local bird-observers, was still present unbroken on 

 February 19. On February 20 all but the four Baldpates were 

 absent and continued absent over the 21st. On the 22d they 

 had returned again with the exception of the Lesser Scaup drake, 

 which was not again seen. Throughout the winter this drake had 

 been rather the shyest of the little company. Where these birds 

 went when absent for a day or two, as has occurred several times, 

 we do not know. A search was made of all the neighboring waters 

 on the 20th, when they were missed by several successive visitors 

 to Leverett Pond, but none of these observers, familiar with them, 

 could find them. Yet two days later they had returned, leaving, 

 however, the Lesser Scaup behind. 



To have had an individual of any one of these species with us 

 throughout the winter would have been a rare occurrence. There- 

 fore the presence of the five species on Leverett Pond furnishes 

 an extraordinary record. It would not have been possible except 

 for the two facts that the waters are protected and that open 

 water, at least to a limited extent, is secured to them. Back of 

 these necessary conditions lies one other fact that the wild fowl 

 in unusual numbers came to Jamaica Pond in the fall and early 

 winter and found it an acceptable place for tarrying. So these 

 ducks, having remained late and become wonted to the conditions 

 and to association together, when it became necessary to take to 

 another spot, sought one near at hand. They wavered somewhat 

 in the selection, but in a few days were of one mind and chose the 

 place plainly the most favorable for them. Here they have 

 lived happily and well, relieved of their natural fears by the pres- 

 ence of the park Mallards and becoming quite like domesticated 

 ducks. 



Something will now be added concerning these ducks as winter 

 departed and spring opened and concerning their final disappear- 

 ance, this being an addendum to the paper as read before the 

 Nuttall Club. 



