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 Mar., 1911 Till'] BLUF,-THROATEI) HUMMINGBIRD 49 Fig. 22. VOUNG OF BLUE-THROATED HUMMING- BIRD ABOUT TO LEAVE NEST ODDS AND ENDS By JOSEPH MAILI. IARI) Aix sp0nsa. Wood Duck. Coming across a small band of W'ood Ducks in the fall of 1910, near th.e junction of the Tuolumne and San Joaquin rivers, reminded me of the fact that it had been many a long day since I had seen one of these birds alive, and that while they used to be plentiful in Marhi and Sonoma counties back in the seventies and eighties they are extreinely scarce in those regions now- adays. As late as twenty-five years ago it was no uncommon thing to see Wood Ducks scattered in small groups along such a stream as the "Paper Mill" or "l,agunitas" creek in Marin county, or anywhexe along the Santa Rosa Laguna in Sonoma county, even where quite a number of people lived in the vicinity aud there was a good deal of travel along the streams. Often they were found in small tribu- taries and diminutive ponds along these waterways. But now, with the country rapidly filling up, and more shooting going on, none are to be met with in these their old and favorite haunts. So it was a great surprise, as well as a pleasure, to come across them again in Stanislaus county this year, the greater surprise for the reason that none were seen in the two previous years during which I have had opportunity to make observations there. This last fall (1910) several were seen on different occasions, one was taken, and oue flock of fourteen, mostly males, was flushed from a small laguna among the willow thickets.