(See brief description of courtship &
love call, by E. H. More Bird Lore, Oct 1890, Vol II, p. 157.
Also Townsend's Birds Essex Co. p. 137, 138.)
Back Bay Basin,
Boston, Mass.
1909.
Feb. 27
(9.20 to
10.30 a.m.)
(1)
  Cloudless but somewhat hazy with light easterly wind
alternating with periods of dead calm. Ther. 26 degrees min. 42 degrees max.
Ceremonial courtship of Clangula c. americana
  I saw and heard this morning for the first time
and under exceptionally favorable conditions, the courting
actions and love notes of the American Golden-eye,
Clangula clangula americana. Dr. C. W. Townsend gave me
some account of them last year just after witnessing them
in February or March. On February 24 of the present year he
told me that the birds had already begin to perform (on the
22nd, I think). When I learned this I resolved to take
advantage of the first favorable opportunity to learn 
something of the matter at first hand.
  When I left our house this morning, about 9 o'clock,
the sky was cloudless but a thin mist or haze obscured
distant objects. The air had a sharp, frosty "tang" although
the thermometer had already risen to 34 degrees. There was