1891
June 1
(No. 3)
Mass.
North Truro. - On first landing we started a Bittern
but it was probably merely feeding there for no 
nest was found. While we were beating about a
superb adult male Ruddy Duck came flying in
from the pond and passed directly over me,
literally within eight feet of my head, going
at a wonder rate of speed and sheering off
as soon as he discovered us. His rich chestnut-
red back and sides and snowy-white cheek
patches were very conspicuous. After circling
low over the water he alighted near the island
but soon rose again, dropping in, the second
time, near the flags on the main shore. As
Miller found the brood of young close to these
same islands last year we had strong hopes at 
first of discovering the nest but if it really was
on either of the islands it was too well concealed
to be detected on this occasion. The [female] Ruddy was
not seen but we found some of her feathers among 
the flags several yards from the edge of the open
water.
  There were several large Musk-rat houses on these 
island and in two places we found the 
remains of an eel which had been treated in
a curious manner - by Otters, our host tells us.
The head and tail had been eaten off and all
the flesh removed from the back bone for a
space of several inches back from each extremity
the middle part of the body, for six or eight,
inches being untouched. Otters are said to be
numerous in the pond. There were trapped last 
winter.