DAFILA ACUTA. 
The Pintail, being a very early migrant, besides being 
extremely wild, and seldom enticed near live decoys, makes 
up a very small proportion of the total, only twenty-nine, 
or, one per cent having been actually taken. However, 
eighty-four others are noted on the records, and if we take 
into account the numbers which must have passed before 
the stand was opened, we will have to correct the above 
figure to between three and five per cent. The year 1901 
appears to be the best Pintail year, as nine were shot, and 
twenty-five others noted. The next best year is 1902 with 
six taken. Pintail were shot on eleven of the twenty 
years. 
AIX S PONS A. 
Only nine Wood-ducks were taken, and few others noted, 
besides a few local birds that were attracted to my farm 
by captive specimens. Wood-ducks migrate too early to 
appear often on my log, and they nearly always avoid live 
decoys. They seldom alight in the open water of a large 
lake, and hence are only seen on rare occasions. 
MARILA AMERICANA. 
The Red-head is an irregular, although not very uncom¬ 
mon duck at Wenham. One hundred and three have been 
taken, or three and one half per cent, and forty-nine others 
identified. The true status of the species in Essex County 
should probably be under, rather than over three per cent; 
as Red-heads decoy readily, and if they come to the pond, 
nearly always give a shot, unless actually frightened away. 
Red-heads were taken on sixteen of the twenty years, the 
largest numbers being twenty-nine in 1901, twenty-two in 
1903, and eighteen in 1908. They have fallen off in abun¬ 
dance at Wenham in the past ten years; for only twenty 
have been taken, as against eighty-three for the first ten 
years. Fewer also have been seen. Here again, during 
the years 1901—1903 when other Western-bred ducks were 
common, most of the Red-heads were shot. 
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