Cambridge, Massachusetts.
1900.
December.
(4).
over they spent much of their time on the ice stretched out
in long lines along the edge of the piece of open water.
When the light was good one could easily distinguish the red-
legged from the brown-legged birds, by the aid of a glass.
Water fowl
at
Fresh Pond.
  On December 6th, Mr. Deane noted six Scaups which he
thinks were affinis. They came flying in from the south and,
after describing a wide curve over the "bedded" Herring Gulls
and Black Ducks, dropped into the water facing him, "their
white under parts flashing in the sunlight." On the 24th I
saw a flock of six Whistlers rise from the western side of the
Pond and fly off in the direction of Charles River.
Lesser Scaups
  The Ruddy Ducks attracted especial attention and interest
during their prolonged visit. They were first noted on Novem-
ber 17th (by Mr. Lothrop). From this date up to December 14th,
when they were last seen (by Mr. Deane), they were invariably
present whenever the Pond was visited, both in the morning
and afternoon, excepting on December 12th when, at 3 P.M.,
Mr. Deane failed to find any trace of them. Their numbers,
strange to say, varied more or less from day to day as well
as from week to week. On November 17th the flock consisted 
of fifteen birds. On the 22nd and 26th I counted them with
the greatest care and fully satisfied myself that on each
occasion there were seventeen, besides a lesser Scaup Duck
Ruddy
Ducks
117