408 Wright, Rare Wild Ducks Wintering at Boston, Mass. [oct^ 



servation it was found that one Baldpate drake had disappeared, 

 leaving the three other Baldpates behind. One drake, it may be 

 of interest to recall, had joined the two drakes and the duck six 

 weeks after their arrival on Jamaica Pond in the fall. This day one 

 Baldpate drake and the duck were seen on Leverett Pond, swim- 

 ming about closely together as a pair. This drake, which appeared 

 to be paired with the duck, was the handsomest of the three, 

 having a more pronounced white crown, which throughout the 

 winter had made him the most conspicuous of them. No court- 

 ship actions of the pair, however, were witnessed by myself or 

 by Dr. C. W. Townsend, who gave them close attention for a 

 time in the warm forenoon of this day. The third drake, though 

 not seen on this day, was subsequently present with the pair. 

 These three remaining Baldpates were again seen by me on March 

 31 on Leverett Pond. They had been going back and forth from 

 the one pond to the other for several days. On April 1 they were 

 seen on Jamaica Pond by Mr. Kelley and also by Mr. Brainerd, 

 but were not again seen by them or me there or elsewhere. 



The departure of these ducks from the waters where they had 

 lived throughout the winter and into early spring at the time of 

 the general northward migration further strengthens the necessary 

 assumption that they were wild ducks, that they came from a 

 state of wildness and returned to a state of wildness, having be- 

 haved during their season of association with the park ducks 

 almost as if they were domesticated. 



