THE WREN 5 
A THREE DAYS WALKING TRIP ALONG THE SHORE. 
On December 28, R. M. Marble and I started from Little 
Nahant to walk northward along the shore. The sky was clear, 
_ there was a brisk off-shore wind, and the thermometer registered 
about 35°. As usual, off Lynn beach, we found Old-squaws, 
Herring Gulls, and Buffle-heads. At the edge of the beach grass 
a flock of Horned Larks were feeding, and as we approached 
Lynn, a small gull flew overhead. The light was good and the 
bird very evidently had pure white wings, not pearl gray, and no 
dark tips. We, therefore, decided that it was an Iceland Gull. 
At Swampscott, we noted the Holbeell’s and Horned Grebes, 
Golden-eye, and greater Scaup Ducks and White-winged Scoters. 
From Swampscott to Phillip’s Beach, we saw Crows, Flickers, 
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Song Sparrow, and Pine Siskin. 
The most interesting feature of the day occurred at Beach Bluffs. 
A Horned Grebe, apparently uninjured, was up on the beach, 
My companion discovered him when only the head with its red eye 
showed above a stone. As we approached, the bird got up and 
hopped, literally hopped with both feet at once, along the beach 
several feet. ‘Then, he fell forward on his breast and did not 
attempt to get up again. He showed a disposition to be snappy 
when we tried to pick him up. Presently, he scrambled into a pool 
of shallow water which had filtered through the mass of seaweed. 
He dove immediately and tried to get through the seaweed but 
could not. In this case certainly, he did not use his wings in swim- 
ming. Finally, we caught him and examined with much interest 
his lobed feet. Then we put him in the water, when he dove at 
once and came up well out in the cove. 
At Beach Bluffs, while we ate lunch, we saw the Northern Loon, 
and Black-backed Gull. Off Marblehead Neck: were several 
Black Guillemots and a small flock of Red-breasted Mergansers. 
A Tree Sparrow on our way to Salem, completed the list for the day, 
which gave a total of twenty species. I think the most noticeable 
thing for the day, was the abundance of both kinds of Grebe. 
They were everywhere in flocks of from 2 to 6 individuals. 
The next day, December 29, was also clear and warm with a 
light northwest wind. We started from Salem about 8.30 and 
