42 NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND BIRDS 



that glowing gem floating in contact with its waters ! 

 As if the hummingbird should recline its ruby throat 

 and its breast on the water. Like dipping a glowing coal 

 in water ! It so affected me. 



It became excited, fluttered or flapped its wings with 

 a slight whistling noise, and arose and flew two or three 

 rods and alighted. It sailed close up to the edge of a 

 rock, by which it lay pretty still, and finally sailed fast 

 up one side of the river by the willows, etc., off the 

 duck swamp beyond the spring, now and then turning 

 and sailing back a foot or two, while we paddled up the 

 opposite side a rod in the rear, for twenty or thirty 

 rods. At length we went by it, and it flew back low a 

 few rods to where we roused it. It never offered to dive. 

 We came equally near it again on our return. Unless 

 you are thus near, and have a glass, the splendor and 

 beauty of its colors will not be discovered. 



That duck was all jewels combined, showing differ- 

 ent lustres as it turned on the unrippled element in 

 various lights, now brilliant glossy green, now dusky 

 violet, now a rich bronze, now the reflections that sleep 

 in the ruby's grain. 



Aug. 3, 1856. Two small ducks (probably wood 

 ducks) flying south. Already grown, and at least look- 

 ing south ! ! It reminds me of the swift revolution of 

 the seasons. 



Aug. 16, 1858. In my boating of late I have sev- 

 eral times scared up a couple of summer ducks of this 

 year, bred in our meadows. They allowed me to come 

 quite near, and helped to people the river. I have not 



