BIRDS OF THE CAMBRIDGE REGION. m 



In the autumn of 1863 or 1864, either late in September or early in Octo- 

 ber, I shot a Pintail near the foot of Vassall Lane. It was flying across a 

 meadow towards a pool which we used to call ' Muskrat Pond ' from which I 

 had started a similar-looking Duck about half an hour before. The specimen 

 remained in my collection for a number of years, but was finally destroyed by 

 moths. It was a brown bird and either a female or a young male. 



Soon after sunrise on the morning of April 3, 1873, a fine drake Pintail in 

 full plumage was shot by the late Thomas H. Eames in a marshy hollow filled 

 with rain water on the Stimpson farm, not far from the present point of intersec- 

 tion of Huron Avenue and Appleton Street, a locality now thickly covered with 

 houses. I examined this bird a few hours after it was killed ; Mr. Eames had it 

 mounted, but it was afterwards destroyed. 



On October 2, 1882, a flock of five Pintails, flying over the Glacialis, 

 passed within long gun-range of Mr. Charles R. Lamb, who shot one of them, a 

 female, the skin of which is now in my collection. 



In December, 1899, on the 13th and again on the 2ist of the month, I saw 

 two Pintails in Fresh Pond — the same individuals, no doubt, on both occasions. 

 One was a fine old drake, the other a young male in a plumage about intermedi- 

 ate between that of the female and of the adult of its own sex. They were in 

 company with a number of Black Ducks, but invariably kept close to one 

 another. 



Mr. William P. Hadley has shown me a young Pintail, apparently a female 

 which he shot at Great Meadow some time in the autumn of 1899. It was a 

 solitary bird, he tells me, and rather tame. 



27. Aix sponsa (Linn.). 

 Wood Duck. 



Formerly a very common transient visitor and not uncommon summer resident ; now seen 

 only at its seasons of migration, and then in no great numbers. 



seasonal occurrence. 



March 10, 1892, a pair seen (Concord), W. Brewster. 

 April I — 30. (Formerly in summer.) 



September 15 — October 20. 

 October 26, 1867, one male taken, Fresh Pond Swamps, W. Brewster. 

 November 18, 1894, one ad. male^ taken (Concord), W. Brewster. 



1 No. 30,702, collection of William Brewster. 



