AMERICAN MERGANSER 29 



Haven Pond and would alight under the lee of the 

 Cliff. So, creeping slowly down through the woods 

 four or five rods, I was enabled to get a fair sight of 

 them, and finally we sat exposed on the rocks within 

 twenty-five rods. They appear not to observe a person 

 so high above them. 



It was a pretty sight to see a pair of them tacking 

 about, always within a foot or two of each other and 

 heading the same way, now on this short tack, now on 

 that, the male taking the lead, sinking deep and looking 

 every way. When the whole twelve had come together 

 they would soon break up again, and were continually 

 changing their ground, though not diving, now sailing 

 slowly this way a dozen rods, and now that, and now 

 coming in near the shore. Then they would all go to 

 preening themselves, thrusting their bills into their 

 backs and keeping up such a brisk motion that you 

 could not get a fair sight of one's head. From time to 

 time you heard a slight titter, not of alarm, but perhaps 

 a breeding-note, for they were evidently selecting their 

 mates. I saw one scratch its ear or head with its foot. 

 Then it was surprising to see how, briskly sailing off 

 one side, they went to diving, as if they had suddenly 

 come across a school of minnows. A whole company 

 would disappear at once, never rising high as before. 

 Now for nearly a minute there is not a feather to be 

 seen, and the next minute you see a party of half a 

 dozen there, chasing one another and making the water 

 fly far and wide. 



When returning, we saw, near the outlet of the pond, 

 seven or eight sheldrakes standing still in a line on the 



