oie ome rDs tebe ON B Uae CoE TDN ‘i 
The winter of ’38-’39 was a good one in which to observe water- 
fowl. On McGinnis’ slough rifts in the ice permitted the ducks to 
stay around most of the winter. Notable was the large number of 
black ducks. Mr. Mann, maintenance engineer for the forest pre- 
serve district, told me that he had seen as many as 4,000 in one day. 
I had seen no such numbers, but they certainly were abundant. Lake 
Michigan contributed an unusual quota. Early in the winter a run 
of minnows attracted large numbers of ducks and gulls near the shore, 
and later ice conditions left open water within observation distance. 
Off 39th St. one day I saw about 1,000 ducks. American mergansers 
predominated, with golden-eyes a good second. Old squaws in nuptial 
plumage were common and there were a few scaups. The prize find 
was a pair of white-winged scoters, one with white around the eye 
and one with a spot before and one behind the eye. Both had the 
white wing spot. It was interesting to note that when they dived it 
was with half open wing, the only other duck in which I remember 
having observed that particular habit being the old squaw. The red- 
breasted merganser was present in small numbers and one hooded 
merganser was seen, either a female or a young male. The sun was 
shining brightly from the southwest, which brought out the pattern 
and color detail to perfection. Altogether it was a red letter day for 
waterbirds, finished up by a kingfisher which seems to have wintered 
in Jackson Park. 
Chicago, Ill. 
FANCIES 
By EDWARD R. FORD 
EACH of us who feels that his way of life has been in special measure 
affected by an interest in birds is aware, with regard to certain forms, 
of a peculiar impression. Usually this will be found to relate itself 
to some early association of ideas. Sometimes it is connected with 
the sorrow or happiness of a profound moment. I have been told of 
a woman, fond of birds, who could not bear the song of the wood 
thrush. Its notes, poignant and sweet, she had once heard at evenfall 
as she sat by her dying husband. 
But this association has not always to do with environment nor 
attendant personal experience. Rather it is of the stuff of impres- 
sions and fancies the most vague. There have been times when the 
croaking of the red-headed woodpecker, a bird not commonly consid- 
ered of ominous appearance or behaviour, a saviour rather than a 
wrecker of trees, has brought to mind some wind-havocked or fire- 
scathed region, where all the trees stood naked and bereft and where 
he seemed the very executioner of pine and oak, in scarlet hood gloat- 
ing and croaking among their dry bones, rattling first one skeleton 
and then another and tapping hollowly upon bleak tombstones; the 
more spectral and fearsome because of his striking suit than if he 
were clothed in solemn and befitting black. 
And to describe the waxwing as of sinister appearance is likely 
