1889, 
October 8. 
Anas obscura rubripes. 
Lake Umbagog. 
Whale Back Cove . 
Next to Whale Back Gove. About 20 Black Ducks in grass 
among the stubs quacking loudly. Paddled up behind a bush and 
waited. They swam within 30 yds., working busily in devious 
courses among the drift wood. I could not get two together and 
finally they rose and came straight at us, some passing within 
ten yards or less. I fired both barrels at high birds. The first 
flew about 50 yds. and fell, the other although hard hit kept on. 
The one I killed was a fine large bird, evidently a northerner. 
I890 Lake Umbagog. 
October 3. The Out 1st,- 
About several of the shallow pools the water and mud 
were covered with the feathers of Black Ducks and I saw other fa¬ 
miliar signs of their recent presence, such as torn up roots of 
aquatic plants, etc. They doubtless visit these marshes at night 
to feed and spend the day in some of the back ponds. The hunters 
camping on Moll's Rock keep up such an incessant racket with their 
rifle practise, shouting, etc. that it is no wonder the shyer 
birds avoid the marshes opposite. 
October 15. 
Lake Umbagog. 
Bottle Brook Pond. 
I shot one barrel at four or five (Black Ducks) that were 
somewhere near together, killing one and wounding another, while 
with my second barrel I dropped a single bird. The wounded Duck 
flew down the arm to the river bank, then turned to the ngnt into 
the woods where Don found it in a hole under the roots of an up¬ 
turned tree. It proved to be a partial albino, a beautiful oird 
mottled on the back and wings with pure white. 
