Aix snonsa. 
Concord, 
1894. 
Oct. 11 
to 
Nov. 21. 
Mass . 
Wood Ducks were more numerous in the river than usual 
owing probably to the fact that many of the smaller ponds and 
brooks were nearly or quite dry this autumn. On Oct. 17th a 
pair of these beautiful Ducks appeared on the reach known as 
the Holt, and remained there constantly .until the 20th when I 
shot them both. At first they were rather shy but as they 
were not molested and became accustomed to the frequent ap- 
pearance of boats and canoes they soon allowed ms to paddle or 
row v;ithin short gun range before taking flight. After the 
first day they frequented the Holt and the wooded reach just 
above Hunt's Pond, indifferently , flying from place to the 
A 
other and back again as often as they were disturbed, regular- 
ly doubling back over the land to avoid the approaching boat. 
I should not have killed them but for the fact that the 20th 
was Saturday and it was practically certain that the meadows 
would be alive with gunners on the Sunday. Although I had 
had numerous easy shots at them through the week they gave me 
no little trouble when I went in pursuit of then on the 20th. 
It happened in this wise:- 
As I was launching my canoe Herbert Holden came past and 
of course we paddled down river together. We found the Ducks 
at Hunt's Pond but they rose out of range and flew to the 
Holt. Here again they started wild and went back to Hunt's 
