BUFFLE-HEAD 45 



of the pond. It had a moderate-sized black head and 

 neck, a white breast, and seemed dark-brown above, 

 with a white spot on the side of the head, not reaching 

 to the outside, from base of mandibles, and another, 

 perhaps, on the end of the wing, with some black there. 

 It sat drifting round a little, but with ever its breast to- 

 ward the wind, and from time to time it raised its head 

 and looked round to see if it were safe. I think it was 

 the smallest duck lever saw. Floating buoyantly asleep 

 on the middle of Walden Pond. Was it not a female 

 of the buffle-headed or spirit duck? I believed the wings 

 looked blacker when it flew, with some white beneath. 

 It floated like a little casket, and at first I doubted a 

 good while if it possessed life, until I saw it raise its 

 head and look around. It had chosen a place for its nap 

 exactly equidistant between the two shores there, and, 

 with its breast to the wind, swung round only as much 

 as a vessel held by its anchors in the stream. At length 

 the cars scared it. 



WILD DUCKS (species UNNAMED) 



March 16, 1840. The ducks alight at this season on 

 the windward side of the river, in the smooth water, 

 and swim about by twos and threes, pluming themselves 

 and diving to peck at the root of the lily and the cran- 

 berries which the frost has not loosened. It is impos- 

 sible to approach them within gunshot when they are 

 accompanied by the gull, which rises sooner and makes 

 them restless. They fly to windward first, in order to 

 get under weigh, and are more easily reached by the 

 shot if approached on that side. When preparing to 



