The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-01

nificent black bass that were lying in
the shadows, and they flung themselvs
cut OF the water one after another, the
last falling almost against the gunwalc
and making a splash such as would Dt;
caused by throwing overheard a fair
sized dog. Just beyond is the place
where some muskrats have their haunt,
and the water at the edge of the stone.
is muddied by their movements.
For nearly a week past 1 have beeI
aware that family of domestic ducks
which have taken up their residence
along the western shore have been
Joined by a bunch of gadwall, who
seem to have developed peculiar fond
ress for the society of their tame COM
TantOns; and one of the things l have
IN view in passing the night upon the
lake is to get some insight into the
nocturnal habits Of these birds.
Throughout the day the gadwaIl
allow themselves to be approached
quite nearly before taking wing, and
frequently return to the ducks with
out settling, When flushed even though
their position is within gunshot-con-
tentfng themselves with circltng over
the water two or three times on the
side away from their observer, and
seeming to associate the idea of safety
to themselves with the immunity of
their friends from mOlestation; but to-
wards evening they become more shy,
and resent any attempt to approach
them, having apparently learned that
an attack is more likely to be made
under cover of the gathering dark
ness than in the open light of day A
vOciferOus quacking set up by the
ducks in the neck, as I pull across the
haunt of the muskrats, establishes the
direction in which the gadwau are
most likely to be found
Just before s o'clock. as I am prepar-
ing TO DIlt the wafer fFnT
adding to the equipment of the boat
some protection from the rapid conden-
SatiOn and consequent wetness of the
thwarts, great blue heron starts
from the willows at the head of the
lake, making in the direction of the
camp and uttering an occasional
sQuawk at it approaches. The bird
has come within about thirty yards,
flying with deliberate and noiseless
wing strokes, then it becomes aware
of something unusual in the vicinity
and turns suddenly towards the neck.
the abrupt and powerful tanning of it's
wings as it changes front sounding in
the stiffness like the huttering of a
heavy sail.
BY o'clock [ am out upon the water
and have started for the entrance to
the neck, which promises to afford ia
cllities for observation not obtainable
on the open lake. Presently 1 hear
luS grave Md, hldB Kid, Oh smaller
heron that is nearing me. the bird
like its precursor, the greater blue
having apparently been baked in its
Intention of ahghting near the camp
This one passes overhead about fift5
feet up and slightly to the right Of the
boat, nothing disconnected by my prox
Unity, and l note it's lessening and
slowly-repeated cry for about a min
ute as it flies across the dam to some
where in the chain of ponds beyond.
1t is certain that the herons take adj
vantage Of the darkness to investigate
the smaller sheets of water which FEED
the mill wheels Of the village, making
their appearance when the premise
ere deserted and departing before the
daylight renders them liable to moIes
tation, and 1 have perhaps simply pre-
cIpitated, in case of this particular
bird, what in the ordinary course OF
things would have been a later move
ment in it's programme of the night
For my own part, l am by no meapc
sure that the disappearance of certain
trout from small private pond be-
longing to a neighbor, which occurred
( lately between sunset and dawn
] should not be set down to a visit from
+ these birds rather than to the less dex-
ferrous marauder at whose door it ha:
been laid.
! Owing to the disparity between the
temperature of the water and that al
the surrounding atmosphere, which has
been rapidly increasing since shutdown
IA heavy mist is rising from the lake anC
rendering observation difficult excep
. at very close range. Herons cross in 4
at intervals. however, their fight line.
being determinable by their slowly re
peated cries. AS the haze Is sufficient,