60 NOTES ON NEW ENGLAND BIRDS 



March 28, 1859. We see eight geese floating afar 

 in the middle of the meadow, at least half a mile off, 

 plainly (with glass) much larger than the ducks in their 

 neighborhood and the white on their heads very dis- 

 tinct. When at length they arise and fly off northward, 

 their peculiar heavy undulating wings, blue-heron-like 

 and unlike any duck, are very noticeable. The black, 

 sheldrake, etc., move their wings rapidly, and remind 

 you of paddle-wheel steamers. Methinks the wings of 

 the black duck appear to be set very far back when it 

 is flying. The meadows, which are still covered far and 

 wide, are quite alive with black ducks. 



When walking about on the low east shore at the 

 Bedford bound, I heard a faint honk, and looked around 

 over the water with my glass, thinking it came from 

 that side or perhaps from a farmyard in that direction. 

 I soon heard it again, and at last we detected a great 

 flock passing over, quite on the other side of us and 

 pretty high up. From time to time one of the company 

 uttered a short note, that peculiarly metallic, clangorous 

 sound. These were in a single undulating line, and, as 

 usual, one or two were from time to time crowded out 

 of the line, apparently by the crowding of those in the 

 rear, and were flying on one side and trying to recover 

 their places, but at last a second short line was formed, 

 meeting the long one at the usual angle and making a 

 figure somewhat like a hay-hook. I suspect it will be 

 found that there is really some advantage in large birds 

 of passage flying in the wedge form and cleaving their 

 way through the air, — that they really do overcome its 

 resistance best in this way, — and perchanoe the direc- 



