an American bittern. Then a flock of 8 or 10 
mallards flew over high up and were followed 
by about 25 more. The last ones changed their 
formation from a V to a line. For a moment 
all v/as confusion and then they formed a line. 
I fired twice with no effect. 
Then three more mallards came over and after 
a good deal of circling in the farther end I 
followed along carefully and up flew the single 
mallard again. I fired at long range but missed. 
A few steps farther another American bittern 
rose up with harsh squoks . It had been hiding 
in a clump of grass in about 8 inches of water. 
Next I saw a sora but did not fire. It 
lit with splash among the bushes. Then with a 
few squoks out flew a least bittern from ny feet. 
1 did not pay much attention to it for the 
three ducks flew up just then. 1 shot twice and 
SOt one as they strung past. It was a young 
male and was very handsome. This was my first 
'ihck. The ducks all left and I went home. 
In the afternoon 1 went over to Jack Dickies 
^d he and I went out after ducks, he had a 
mallard which he called a gray duck, two coots 
which he called rice hens and a blue-winged teal 
bung up. This was the first time I had ever seen 
the l aS t two. 
I stood in a corner while he went down 
through to scare up the ducks. He saw nothing but 
a hands one little green-winged teal which he shot. 
The water varied from 6 in. to two or three 
l® 0 t in depth and covered a large area. '1'he ducks 
were not flying and we did not get any after this. 
Busty blackbirds were very thick here and 
in the Big Marsh. They fed on the soft ground 
£ n d in cornfields flying up in clouds before. 
■fhey bathed considerable and made a great deal 
°f racket. There were a few bronzed grackles and 
c owbi r d s with them. 
