1879 Boston Harbor
 Jan. [January] 24 tho' I suspect that it
may have been a female Mergus 
cucullatus. The shot failed to take
effect and the bird was soon out of
sight. We next ran up to a Red throated
Loon (C. [Colymbus] septubrionalis) and every
barrel in the party was fired at him
without avail. He seemed utterly
confused by this unexpected assault
and neither dove nor flew. In fact
before we could reload our headway
carried us nearly over him when
he flopped off to one side. A few
more shots seemed to bring him to 
his senses and he at once took
to diving in a way that completely
baffled us. After an hour[']s chase
he settled the matter by taking 
to wing against the wind and
making out to sea. We next ran
down Lighthouse channel and
out into the open ocean beyond
the outer "Brewsters". In the
1879 Boston Harbor
Jan [January] 24 middle of the channel
about opposite Boston Light we found
a number of Black Guillemots (Uria
grylle) and these were shot and
safely brought to boat. Here we also 
saw a pair of Little Auks (Mergatus
alle) which flew from in shore &
disappeared in the distance seaward.
(for description of habits of Uria grylle
see sheets on file)! Several Loons
(C. [Colymbus] torquatus) were also found in
the tide way and afforded us
a little rifle practice. They were all
immature birds. Returning we next
steamed in by Hull and thence
thro' numerous intricate channels
between the islands back towards
Boston. It was here that we
saw the greatest number of
Ducks and in some places the
flats and coves fairly swarmed
with them. In one place an
immense flock of Black Ducks