WATER BIRDS 



During October and November they pour 

 along the coast, sometimes in great numbers, 

 and at times flock succeeds flock as far as the 

 eye can see oft' the beach at Ipswich. On days 

 of great flights it is a fascinating study to 

 watch these birds from the top of a tall dune 

 near the beach as they sweep by with irresist- 

 ible energy. On reaching the angle at Annis- 

 quam where Cape Ann juts boldly out, the 

 birds often appear at a loss what to do. Some- 

 times they fly first one way and then another, 

 rising higher and higher all the time, finally 

 to strike out towards the end of the Cape, over 

 which they resume their southerly course. 

 Another flock will turn at the angle without 

 pausing and skirt the shore around the Cape, 

 but occasionally a flock will become discour- 

 aged on reaching the solid barrier and will 

 turn back to drop in the water and talk it 

 over. All this shows the dislike of the scoter 

 to fly over the land, yet in stormy weather 

 they fly directly over the base of the Cape. 



Ducks are not famous as songsters, but 

 there is a somewhat musical duck that ajDpears 

 in these waters, namely the old squaw, old- 

 wife, or long-tailed duck. This handsome bird 

 comes with the winter in a livery of snow 



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