Clangula clangula americana. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1897. But the most interesting experience of the evening re- May 30. mains to be mentioned. Soon after we had cast anchor (at 4 P.M. in Leonard's Pond) four Whistlers, all, as far as I could make out with my glass, females, began flying about over the stubs in a peculiar manner now rising high above them, next & descending and dashing between the trunks and branches, moving their wings incessantly as in ordinary flight but describing a succession of circles, in the centre of which stood a re- markably tall stub with a shattered, jagged top. Around^this they would pass a dozen times or more gradually narrowing their circles and drawing nearer to the stub until at length one bird leaving the rest would pitch first downward, then sharp- ly upward still moving its wings but using them at the last to check rather than to increase its headway. On reaching the stub it would try to alight on the ragged top. Usually the attempt failed when the bird, continuing its flight, would disappear through the trees, presently reappearing above them to begin circling again; but twice it gained a foothold and actually remained perched on the top of the stub for several seconds although it was obliged to keep its wings almost con- stantly in motion to maintain its balance. On several occasions it seemed to direct its upward sweep towards a point a foot or two below the top of the stub and once, when no Ducks were in sight circling, I distinctly