THE SCIENTIFIC MONTHLY: ;* A . 



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the survivors, was soon among them again. Once the grebe followed its prey 

 so close to the wharf that we could see both. At first the minnows tried to 

 escape by scattering and darting down into deep water, but the grebe singled 

 out one and gradually drove it toward the surface, all the time drawing nearer, 

 and just as the minnow was about to leap from the water it was caught. 



The fog being now nearly gone we pushed off in our boat. As we rowed 

 out from shore immense, numbers of ducks arose from the water, in every direc- 

 tion, and after wheeling about a few times the most of them started off. When 

 they circled by we recognized several species. The Scaup Duck (Fulix affinnis) 

 and Widgeon (Mareca Americana) appeared to be the most numerous. There 

 were also many Buffie-heads (Bucephala albeola) and Gd.dwaills-(C/?an/e/asmus 

 streperus,) while from the marsh came the familiar u quack " of the Mallard 

 (Anas boschas.) 



Just in advance we noticed several large waders on a point of land and 

 rowed over near them. They proved to be Willets ( SympJiemia semipalmata,) 

 which on our approach seemed to appoint themselves a special committee of 

 investigation, hovering overhead and keeping up a continual outcry, as though 

 warning all the inhabitants of the marsh to beware of us. 



After a pair of them were shot the rest left, at once, for a safer location. 

 Pushing the boat up into a narrow strip of grass* bordering the marsh we were 

 greatly amused by the actions of a large Rail ( ' Rallus longirostris;) as the bow 

 of the boat was pushed up into one side of the strip of the grass the Rail with 

 great deliberation walked out of the other side, only one or two yards in ad- 

 vance, and after looking at us in apparent amazement for an instant, com- 

 menced gravely walking toward a bunch of rushes a short distance away. Every 

 step was taken very carefully, the foot being raised slowly and placed gently in 

 advance, the bird all the time looking as though it were in deep meditation, nor 

 did our shouts and rattling the oars about have the least effect on its pace. 



Landing, we started toward a distant bridge on which several Blue Herons 

 (Ardea herodias) were standing. With characteristic shyness they declined a 

 close intimacy and flew long before we were within gunshot. Occasionally a Wil- 

 son's Snipe ( Gallinago Wilsoni) sprang from a muddy spot and darted away as 

 we walked along, and from the grassy pools numbers of Mallards and Spoonbills 

 (Spatula Clypeata) flew noisily off on our approach. 



A low whistling cry from a depression, to one side, attracted our attention; 

 and on our approach we were astonished to see a large flock of Long-billed 

 Curlews (Numenius longirostris ) and Marbled Godwits (Limosa Fe.doa) raise 

 and fly away. After flying a short distance they turned and came near enough 

 for us to secure a fine Curlew. 



A flock of large Terns were standing on a bare mud flat, but on our ap- 

 pearance they arose and flew over, coming so near that one was winged ; not 

 heeding the deafening cries of the wounded bird, its companions kept steadily 

 on and soon disappeared. 



To our satisfaction the Tern proved to be a fine specimen of Sterna Caspia. 



