Page:Early Spring in Massachusetts (1881).djvu/291

Rh just north of the inlet of the pond, where there is about three feet of water, and others still playing and preening themselves. These ducks, whose tame representatives are so sluggish and deliberate in their motions, were full of activity. A party of them fishing and playing is a very lively scene. On one side, for instance, you will see eight or ten busily diving and most of the time under water, not rising high when they come up, and soon plunging again. The whole surface will be in commotion, though no ducks are to be seen. I saw one come up with a large fish, whereupon all the rest, as they successively came to the surface, gave chase to it, while it held its prey over the water in its bill. They pursued it with a great rush and clatter a dozen or more rods over the surface, making a great furrow in the water, but there being some trees in the way I could not see the issue. I saw seven or eight all dive together, as with one consent, remaining under, half a minute or more. On another side you see a party which seem to be playing and pluming themselves. They will swim rapidly and dive, and come up and dive again every three or four feet, occasionally one pursuing another, will flutter in the water, making it fly, or erect themselves at full length on the surface like a penguin, and flap their wings. This party make an