1889, 
September 25 
Aix sponsa. 
Lake Umbagog 
Bottle Brook Pond . 
4 
In the second cove discovered a Wood Duck asleep on the 
end of a dead prong at least ten feet above the water, a shapeless 
mass with head buried under feathers of bach. Two others similar¬ 
ly enjoying themselves lower down on the same branch. Got within 
20 yds., but could not get two together, so retreated and attempt¬ 
ed to approach from a different direction, when a flock of about a 
dozen heard or sa''- me and started arousing the sleepers of course. 
I fired one barrel at long range dropping a bird with a broken 
wing. It' at once went ashore on the other side of the cove. I 
then returned to where I left the Grouse and easily found and 
hilled them both. Upon reaching the place where the Wood Duck 
landed Don took her track and followed it across a ridge to a hol¬ 
low where there was a pond of rain water. In some grass on its 
edge he found and pointed his bird, but she eluded his spring and 
flopped off over the water, diving near the middle of the pond. I 
did not see her again nor could the dog strike any scent about the 
pond. I waded all over it but could not find her clinging to the 
bottom. 'Where she went is a mystery. 
• « • • • 
September 26. Lake Umbagog. 
Bear Brook . 
* 
In Bear Brook Chadbourne killed two fine adult male Wood 
Ducks at one shot. There were four of them with about a dozen fe- 
t 
males and young birds. Of the latter we got one. 
