4 Anus obscura Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1889 Maine Sept. Oct E. Umbagog (Continued) Then a flock of Black Ducks come into a pond they invariably fly all over it several times at a safe height inspecting every nook & corner with their keen eyes before alighting. Should they discover nothing suspicious they finally settle, very lightly & gracefully for ducks, in open water out of gunshot from any cover that might conceal an enemy, just after they strike the water each bird flaps its wings a few times to break the force of its descent then folds them neatly. For several minutes all but motionless their necks raised their keen eyes scanning the neighborhood. Alert, their equally keen ears strained to catch the slightest sound. Little by little their vigilance is relaxed. One or two birds begin to swim about & tip the water and finally the whole flock starts for the edge of the nearest grass strung out in a line in Indian file. Upon reaching the marsh they begin to feed but several in the flock are almost always on the watch. Should a twig snap or leaves rustle loudly near at hand they stop feeding & stretch up their necks, If the sound is repeated they usually swim directly out into the pond often returning after watching & listening for awhile. Then on the alert & floating in open water the Black Ducks sit high & look, as he is, like a large bird, But when feeding he swims with only an inch or less of his back showing (as a mere narrow, black line at the forward end of which is his head, the bill carried just clear of the water. He is then very inconspicuous & a passing object to a novice. Even an old hunter may sometimes overlook a dozen or more of these Ducks swimming along the edge of a marsh or mud banks within a few rods or in plain sight of him. If the day is clear 17