15
Back Bay Basin,
Boston, Mass.
1909.
Feb. 27
(No 15)
of a mile. It was produced, without question, by a
vigorous, and obviously most dextrous, upward kick of
the Whistler's broad webbed feet which, indeed I saw
plainly, more than once, jerked out of water just as the
last drops were ascending into the air. When, as
occasionally happened, the jet was doubled in volume
and also apparently somewhat divided at the base,
I thought that the bird had made use of both
feet at once but of this I could not be sure as
I never actually saw more than one of them.
Owing to its force and direction the kick caused the
hinder portions of the bird's body to sink perceptibly
in the water for an instant after which these parts
bobbed still more obviously upward before resuming
the position usual to the floating or swimming
bird.
Whistler courtship.
Kicking up water.