L. Umba gor;. Bu c efrhala albe ola t/' 
1890 ♦ Three ^ or young in Erroll Hill pond diving incessantly for 
Oct . ‘AO , food, sometimes close in shore sometimes out in deep water. They 
arched their backs and sprang nearly clear of the water, cleaving 
the surface almost (but not quite) as deftly as Sheldrakes, When 
under water their positions could be traced by the bubbles which 
kept coming to the surface. When the bird reappeared its bouyansy 
made it bob high out of the water like a cork. Two fished together 
diving and reappearing at about the same time. The other worked 
singly. All maintained perfect silence. One flew and alighted 
near me striking the surface with a light rustling sound and shoot¬ 
ing several yards making a silvery wake or furrow, 
Hour in Erroll Hill Pond to-day, I watched them for about ^ 
» three hours, during v/hich they fished uninterruptedly. Although 
most industrious and energetic in pursuing this occupation they 
seemed to be much less restless than most Ducks, confining their 
operations to a more limited area, and often diving for half an 
hour or more in practically the same spot. They were feeding (as I 
ascertained by shooting^and dissecting two of them) on the larvae 
( f laCrma 'W yww y 
of aquatic insects, with which this pond literally swarms. On com¬ 
A 
ing up from a dive each bird would usually erect its head and look 
keenly around for a moment but often this precaution was ommitted. 
They paid little or no attention to noise and I found it perfectly 
easy to approach them within close gun range although it was im¬ 
possible to move in the woods without making a god deal of noise 
the ground being covered with dry leaves and dead twigs and the day 
•perfectly still. 
