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Lake Umbagog.
Curtis Meadow.
1897
Sept. 21
  Cloudless with raging N.W. wind and phenomenally clear
bracing air - a splendid day for vigorous exercise.
  We had planned to spend the day down the Androscoggin
but the Lake looked so rough after breakfast that we
decided to take the steamer on her return from Sunday Cove.
It was well we did so for when we crossed in her the
seas were big & ugly enough.
  We took to the boats at the entrance to Sweat Meadow
which we inspected without seeing anything of special 
interest. Not a Duck nor even a Heron was to be found there.
[margin]Sweat Meadow
No birds
there
Curtis Meadow[/margin]
  We then went to Curtis Meadow. Soon after entering it we 
took out the paddled [paddles] & skirted the shores closely keeping
a sharp lookout for Ducks. The water was high & the feeding
grounds in excellent condition but we started nothing in
the open pond. As we were nearing the sheltered pool
where the brook comes in, however, we saw a Golden Eagle
first poise and then swoop straight down just beyond
the wooded point which hid the pool from our sight.
[margin]Golden
Eagle
stoops at
a flock of
ducks[/margin]
 At the same moment we heard a Duck quacking loudly.
The next a perfect stream of Ducks began pouring out
over the trees. First came a single Black Duck, next
three Wood Ducks & a Black Duck, next several Black Ducks
and finally a flock of eight or ten Ducks which I
am nearly sure were Widgeon. The last came within
long gun range & I fired a shot at one of them.
The bird first lagged, then towards, and finally pitched
headlong down through the trees on the hillside on our
left. It must have been dead before it reached the ground
but neither Jim nor Will could find it although they
searched fully an hour. The place was very thick & tangled. 
[margin]Wood Ducks
Black " [Ducks] 
Baldpates (?)[/margin]