THE WREN. aie 
bird, Chickadee, Goldfinch, and Sparrow Hawk to our list. Our 
attention was then diverted to a young male Red-headed Wood- 
pecker, which we saw high up in a large oak tree. The red feathers 
of his head were not those of a fully developed male bird and the 
black and white markings were not absolutely defined and distinct. 
This species interested me very much as it was the first individual 
that I had ever seen. We spent nearly half an hour in watching 
him. On our way back to the big farm house, a flock of several 
hundred ducks flew swiftly overhead. Most of them were doubt- 
less Blacks. Just before we reached the house, we saw another 
Red-headed Woodpecker in a grove of oaks and hickories. This 
specimen was in full plumage and made a good climax for our 
morning’s walk. 
After a hasty but hearty dinner, we went down to the marshes 
where we expected to see ducks and perhaps some hawks. Our 
expectations were fulfilled, for, on our way down, we noted what 
appeared to be either a Red-shouldered or Reu-tailed Hawk. We 
were in deubt a moment, but when the bird wheeled in the air, our 
doubts were immediately dispelled by his bright rufous tail. Mead- 
owlarks seemed to be common, and a Downy Woodpecker was 
heard hammering on a nearby stump. We hastened on and soon 
arrived near the spot where we expected to see something of interest. 
Cautiously, we crept toward a small mud-hole of a pond, sometimes 
on our knees, sometimes half crouching, for my friends said that 
the ducks were very shy. A large tree stood in front of us, which 
we used as a blind, in order not to be seen or suspected. When we 
raised our glasses and looked out upon the water we saw a score of 
Black Ducks, and a like number of Pintail Ducks floating lazily 
about. ‘The Pintails were very interesting, especially as I had 
never seen a flock of them before. Baldpates were heard upon the 
pond, but we did not see them until a few moments later when the 
whole gathering rose and circled about overhead. We counted a 
few Mallards, perhaps fifteen, among the wheeling mass of ducks 
which flew about above us. ‘The sight was one long to be remem- 
bered. ‘The birds did not settle down again while we were watch- 
ing the pond, but flew off toward a big reservoir. 
As we lay there, watching the ducks, half a dozen Tree Swallows 
flew over us and passed on. Before going on, we took a last look 
