200 



NATURE STUDY IN SCHOOLS. 



have seen them fully as late at Wood's Hole in former years. These be- 

 lated swailows feed upon the berries of the bayberry or wax myrtle, the waxy 

 covering of which evidently furnishes them with a supply of nutritious food. 

 At Scituate we saw a dead parasitic jagur gull in the hands of a boy. 

 We also observed large flocks of the so called "coots" flying along the 

 coast, but well out to sea. Examples of those birds which we saw hanging 

 on the verandas of some of the cottages of the gunners showed them to be 

 the American scoter, velvet scoter and surf scoter. We also saw dead specimens 



Fig. 93. 



Yellow-rumped Warbler. 



of the red- throated diver, or loon, and also a few living specimens out in the 

 bay. A few old squaws were seen among the flocks of scoters. There 

 were a number of boats anchored near the mouth of the harbor containing 

 sportsmen, or men who probably called themselves such. These men kept up 

 a constant fusillade with their guns. We counted eight or ten shots fired 

 at a single flock of "coots" and feared there might be considerable slaughter 

 going on among the ducks. We felt considerably relieved upon this source, 

 however, when we came to examine a boat which came in as we were about 

 leaving the beach, and found that all the birds which her two occupants 

 could show as a result of their skill were a single Wilson's tern and a vel- 

 vet scoter. We were informed by the men that they did not remember a 

 time before when they had so little " fun" as they had experienced that day. 



Now, although it is probable that the sea ducks of all species are not 

 killed to any great extent, so much shooting at the birds as they approach their 

 feeding grounds, must tend to drive them away, and we can readily foresee the 

 time when few birds will approach our coast. In fact, comparatively few 

 come here now in comparison with the immense numbers which frequented 

 the mouths of rivers and tide ways in past years. 



While the somewhat doubtful gastronomic attraction of a " coot stew " may 

 offer an excuse for shooting these birds, it seems a pity they should be driv- 



