CONCORD 
1896 
October 24 
When near the "tent" I was surprised to hear the 
call of a Black-bellied Plover, repeated a dozen times or 
more. As nearly as I could judge, the bird was flying 
about over the Great Meadows and either some distance off 
or at a considerable height. I have never heard this 
Plover near Concord before. 
On entering the long straight reach just below 
Hunt's Pond, I discovered a drake Wood Duck (doubtless the 
same seen last night) swimming near the middle of the river. 
He sas me and acted as if half-disposed to rise, but I 
worked the canoe back behind some bushes without actually 
starting him. It was then an easy matter to land and 
approach him under cover of the dense thickets which line 
the banks at this point, but just as I was nearly within 
range he swam across the river and began feeding along 
the opposite marshy shore. I lay watching him for 
several minutes until at length the lame gunner, Haggerty, 
who was beating the meadow behind me, fired both barrels 
at a Snipe. The reports started my wood drake but, 
instead of making off, as I expected, he came directly 
towards me and after a short flight alighted on the calm 
river within less than twenty yards of where I lay con¬ 
cealed. I watched him for several minutes more as he 
swam slowly around, preening his beautiful plumage and 
drifting slowly down stream with the sluggish current. 
