227 
1870, 
Erismatura rubsAa* 
Middlesex County, Mass. 
Oct, 4. 
A single bird taken on Fresh Pond. Easterly storm 
yesterday. 
N«v, 15.' 
Shot the last to-day. They have been rather scarce 
on Fresh Pond this autumn. Ve y few were seen in Oc¬ 
tober although we had much frosty weather, but November 
2d, 3, 4, and 5, there wore shot respectively each morn¬ 
ing eight, tvro, one and eight. The weather was not so 
cold as some v/e have had and there v/as no apparent cause 
1 .■ for this flight. They seemed much tamer than usual 
•this autumn and not a single bird that alighted on Fresh 
Pond escaped. On one occasion I headd one utter a 
noise like the squeaking of a rusty hinge. In diving 
they made use of their wings as well as their feet, as I 
proved by watching a wounded bird. They bleed very 
very freely when wounded. 
Dec. 28. 
Several dozens in Boston Market said to have been 
shot on Gape Cod a few days since. 
1871* 
Oct. 21. 
A single bird v/as taken on Fresh Pond. Saw them 
in the market from the western part of the state as ear¬ 
ly as October 1. 
23. 
Six wore shot on Fresh Pond, the last; have been 
usually scarce this fall. 
1881. 
Oct. 13. 
Shot a young male on Concord River. Ho was float¬ 
ing near the middle of the stream and v/as very tame. 
Skin entirely free from fat; flesh very tender, dark 
red in color, and having a strong musky odor. 
“ 27. 
Lamb killed twelve in a single morning on Fresh 
Pond lately. 
