:\Iar., 1911 
TIIK BLUE-THROATKD HUMMINGBIRD 
49 
B'ig. 22. YOUNG OK KLUE-THRO.'\TED HUMMING- 
BIRD ABOUT TO EE.AVK NEST 
ODDS AND ENDS 
By JOSIiPII MAILLIARI) 
Aix sponsa. Wood Duck. Coming across a small band of Wood Ducks in the 
fall of 1910, near the junction of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers, reminded 
me of the fact that it had been many a long day since I had seen one of these 
birds alive, and that while they used to be plentiful in Marin and Sonoma counties 
back in the seventies and eighties they are extremely scarce in those regions now- 
adays. As late as twenty-five years ago it was no uncommon thing to see Wood 
Ducks scattered in small groups along such a stream as the “Paper Mill” or 
“Lagunitas” creek in Marin county, or anywhere along the Santa Rosa Laguna in 
Sonoma county, even where quite a number of people lived in the vicinity and there 
was a good deal of travel along the streams. Often they were found in small tribu- 
taries and diminutive ponds along these waterways. But now, with the country 
rapidly filling up, and more shooting going on, none are to be met with in these 
their old and favorite haunts. So it was a great surprise, as well as a pleasure, to 
come across them again in Stanislaus county this year, the greater surprise for the 
reason that none were seen in the two previous years during which I have had 
opportunity to make observations there. This last fall (1910) several were seen on 
different occasions, one was taken, and one flock of fourteen, mostly males, was 
flushed from a small laguna among the willow thickets. 
