Cambridge, Mass.
1899.
Nov. 29
(No 3)
  The Ducks with a single exception were all Black Ducks
They have been haunting the pond constantly, I am told,
since early in October but their numbers have increased
of late and they are gradually getting bolder and
approaching the shores nearer. On the 24th I saw a
dozen or more within gunshot of the shore off the
hemlock grove and yesterday others had worked in
equally near the [?] shore. This morning they were
further out and scattered everywhere among the Gulls
although not at all evenly for in places there were
single birds or pairs only while in others fifteen or
twenty were collected in a close bunch. They were very
active and noisy at times swimming rapidly to & fro
and quacking loudly but they did not seem to
be feeding. Sometimes two birds would meet and go
through a conscious performance nodding their heads up and
down either together or alternately as if saluting one
another, keeping this up for a minute or more. Again
a single bird would swim very rapidly for yards
with its head and neck stretched out flat on the water
and its body deeply immersed looking like a dark
line drawn on the surface. Of course there was much
plunging, feather-preening and thrashing of the water
and not infrequently several birds would plunge their 
heads and necks beneath the surface and raising them
suddenly scatter a shower of drops over their backs
at the same time beating the water with their wings.
Once six or eight birds rose and flew up to windward
diving from on wing in rapid succession & not only
disappearing beneath the surface but remaining under in some
instances for nearly half-a-minute then rising on wing & diving
again, none from a greater height than five or six feet.
[margin]Black Ducks
in Fresh Pond[/margin]
187