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American Merganser ( Mergus americanus) at Boston, Mass, in 
Midwinter. — On the Charles River, December 30, 1913, at 8.45 o clock 
a. m. there appeared to be a movement towards the west, that is up the 
river, of American Mergansers. There was no wind, although the vane 
pointed west. Some skim ice in the river. I first saw eight drakes, and 
one female resting on the water near the edge of the ice, they soon took 
wing and passed by me. At this time there were three females diving 
near the stone wall, and two other females farther out. Then came a 
flock of twenty-two or three, about half and half males and females, they 
flew past me and were about thirty-five yards high, no notice was taken 
by those flying, or those resting on the water of each other. I also saw a 
few others resting on the water. During a period of fourteen years I have 
never seen so many of these birds in one day in Charles River. Those 
heretofore observed being in the spring where the ice breaks up, and the 
average seen during those fourteen years would not be more than a dozen 
or fifteen a year. On the afternoon of the above date at four and a quarter 
o’clock p. m. I saw a lone Ruddy Duck (Erismatura jamaicensis) in brown 
plumage. — George H. Mackay .Nantucket, Mass. 
Wi.XXX/,4^. 
