Cambridge, Mass.
1909
March 16
(No 9)
  One pair of Gooseanders nearer us than with
any of the others and at a distance of perhaps
150 yards acted for a time in a singular manner.
At first I noticed only the drake, a fine big fellow
with snowy white sides and bottle green head. He
was swimming slowly close about an inconspicuous 
object that looked like a piece of bark or driftwood.
On scrutinizing it closely, however, I soon made
out that it was a female Gooseander floating
perfectly motionless and so deeply immersed that
only the line of her back showed above the
surface. "A dead bird without doubt," I said
to my companion. For at least three minutes she
remained thus and the drake continued to circle around her
pecking at her, occasionally, very gently.
Then, of a sudden, the water was violently
Gooseanders
Singular behavior of mated pair