AMERICAN MERGANSER 27 



been early in January) when the river was all frozen 

 elsewhere. There were three, and they persisted in 

 staying and fishing there. He killed one. 



March 27, 1858. P. M. — Sail to Bittern Cliff. 



Scare up a flock of sheldrakes just off Fair Haven 

 Hill, the conspicuous white ducks, sailing straight 

 hither and thither. At first they fly low up the stream, 

 but, having risen, come back half-way to us, then wheel 

 and go up-stream. Soon after we scare up a flock of 

 black ducks. "We land and steal over the hill through 

 the woods, expecting to find them under Lee's Cliff, as 

 indeed we do, having crawled over the hill through 

 the woods on our stomachs ; and there we watched 

 various water-fowl for an hour. There are a dozen 

 sheldrakes (or goosanders) and among them four or 

 five females. They are now pairing. I should say one 

 or two pairs are made. At first we see only a male and 

 female quite on the alert, some way out on the pond, 

 tacking back and forth and looking every way. They 

 keep close together, headed one way, and when one 

 turns the other also turns quickly. The male appears 

 to take the lead. Soon the rest appear, sailing out from 

 the shore into sight. We hear a squeaking note, as if 

 made by a pump, and presently see four or five great 

 herring gulls wheeling about. Sometimes they make a 

 sound like the scream of a hen-hawk. They are shaped 

 somewhat like a very thick white rolling-pin, sharpened 

 at both ends. At length they alight near the ducks. 



The sheldrakes at length acquire confidence, come 

 close inshore and go to preening themselves, or it may 

 be they are troubled with lice. They are all busy about 



