Roost of 
Red-wings 
feathers of a bluish-ashy color but no trace of any real 
feathers elsewhere, the beak being still clothed with the 
yellowish down which was also sparsely scattered over the 
head and neck. Eyes open to-day. These young sit perfectly 
motionless. 
As I approached the Beaver Dam Rapid a little after 
sunset, I again heard the Red-wings singing in their roost 
among the tall grass. It was a most perfect reproduction 
of the early spring concerts and I repeatedly got the "Wild 
Goose" effect, described by Bolles. At least a dozen males, 
all old birds, were thus engaged. As I drew nearer I could 
hear a multitude of birds fluttering and talking to one 
another among the reeds. Others were continually arriving, 
usually in parties of from three or four to seven or eight, 
never more than a dozen or fifteen. They came from every 
direction and as a rule flew at a great height (300 to 800 
or even 1000 feet) until they were directly above the roost 
when, setting their wings, they shot down almost perpendicu¬ 
larly with great swiftness, each bird acting independently 
of its companions during its descent and many describing 
most beautiful curves, while others simply dropped as 
straight, nearly, as so many falling stones. There was no 
preliminary circling to reconnoiter the ground. When a yard 
or two above the grass, the wings were beaten forcibly to 
check the speed and the bird disappeared into the grass. 
After the flight had nearly ceased, I struck the 
water with my paddle and instantly, with a perfect roar of 
wings, at least six hund red birds rose into the air. Only 
l* 
