Concord River, Mass. 1872 April 5 marly quarter of a mile of me downwind by another Cross birding over it and making a great outcry now thing as the Ears do. Heli I paddled Ruth on the Ten Sheldrakes (M. Americanus and by the way think over that I was mistaken in their identification of the M. serrator can flying him on last trip, and that it does not occur here) and firing our four barrels into them we shot down three, two of which we got the other shot dead float off anyhow the ice was lost. Went south down to Carlyle bridge and saw in all about thirty ducks Whistlers & “Blackis” included. Ruth paddled me on to two Sheldrakes I shelled one I wounded the other. The Sheldrakes were very interesting to watch, keeping on the flooded meadows, in about two feet of water. Drove frequently and swallowed fish as large as our ichus box; one still “shriek”. Their notes were a harsh croak and a long, rolling, guttural cry, the latter I think uttered only by the males and audible at an immense distance). Did not appear to be paired. The males roost in excess over the females; they are very shy flying a quarter of a mile off if the approach made the boat turned toward them. The “Whistlers” we found impossible to approach: the noise made by them could be heard a long way off. On the Sheldrakes we noticed one peculiarity: When part of the flock were alarmed at anything and took flying the remainder stood aloft or show and scream unless the object of suspicion was visible to them also. April 12 Beat the Belmont meadows for Squirs but found the ground all hard underneath even in the snow and of course no birds; nothing but