Concord, Massachusetts.
1894
Oct. 11 to
Nov. 21
(No 20)
Resume of Field Observations
flew to the Holt. Here again they started wild and went
back to Hunt's Pond. Holden very generously now agreed to
leave them to me and kept down stream while I paddled
back nearly to Hunt's Pond and landing stole cautiously
along the meadow behind the fringe of trees and bushes which
made an excellent cover but which, in connection with the
height of the bank, prevented me from getting more than
an occasional glympse of the river. Once or twice I
approached the bank and peered down through the branches
but even then I could scarcely see the water. I must
have passed within a few yards of the Ducks, however, for
when I reached the end of the belt of trees and looked
back I at once discovered the birds swimming close under
a cluster of birches. I did not think that they saw me
but when I got to the birches they were gone and a
moment later I heard the whistling of their wings and
saw them coming up the river flying about on a line
with the tops of the trees. They dropped into the river directly
opposite where I was standing making a loud splash but
very foolishly I crouched just as they were descending &
when I rose to my feet again they had swum in under
the bank and were as invisible as before. Knowing that
they were very near me, however, I waited patiently and
presently light ripples (very unlike the deep furrows made
by a swimming Musk rat) rolling out from under the
bushes warned me that they were coming past me. It was
highly exciting and I had no little difficulty in controlling
my nerves when, through an opening in the branches, I saw
first the female and then the superb old drake appear directly
beneath me and begin dabbling with their bills among the