Anas pbscura. 
Concord, Mass. Migrating. 
1897 . Late in the afternoon as I was standing under a green 
] 
Nov.20. and white dome of pine foliage in the rear of Ball's Hill I 
heard the call of a Robin. I at once stepped out into the 
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open and looked up hoping to get a sight at the bird. I saw 
instead a swarm of Black Ducks flying northward. Gilbert who 
was near me at the time counted them twice making the number 
53. I got only one count and made it 34. Ho doubt he was right. 
The birds presently returned and circled over Holden's meadow, 
then passed out of our sight towards the south. Migrating 
Black Ducks nearly always go directly south past here in au¬ 
tumn and due north in spring. 
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