2 ambr i dg e , Mass. 
1899. 
December . 
D af ila acuta . 
Two In the Pond (Fresh Pond) on the 13th and again on the 
21st. There can he little doubt that they were the same 
birds on both occasions for one was a fine old drake, the 
other a young male in a plumage about intermediate between 
that of the adult of its own sex and the female. The adult 
male showed the white on the neck conspicuously at all times. 
Both birds swam about among the Black Ducks but invariably 
kept close to one another. I did not see either of them 
stretch up its neck to the full length. Indeed they ususaly 
carried their heads quite as low as did the Black Ducks. I 
had an excellent view of them and their identification was 
wholly satisfactory. 
