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May, 1917 85 WILD DUCKS IN A CITY PARK By W. W. RICHARDS WITH FOUR PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR ?ENICE has her pigeons, which, feeding in swarms in her streets and squares, form a feature of the city that has become famous the world over, but after all, these are domestic birds that have made no great change in their habits. In the city of Oakland, California, there is to be seen a comparable sight of great- er marvel, in the wild ducks that flock upon Lake Merritt during the winter months. In what other community are there to be found wild birds of such nota- ble wariness and timidity finding sanctuary within five nfinutes walk of the City _ _ . ] Fig. 32. WILD I)UCKS UPON LAKE I?IERRITT. THE CANVAS-RACKS, PREFERRING DEEP WATER, DO NOT VENT?RE OUT UPON TItE LAWNS. Hall and business center, and this in a city of one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants ? The accompanying photographs were taken at Lake Merritt during the past winter (1916-17). At the northern end of the lake a stretch of water about a mile in length has been fenced off, so as to prevent the approach of pleasure boats. Here the ducks congregated by the thousand, resting upon the water or feeding upon the surrounding lawns, a sight that attracted scores of visitors. The birds soon realized their immunity from the dangers by which they were usually beset, and lost all fear of the surrounding throngs. In the photos taken upon the lawns (figs. 33, 34, 35) the species that pre- dominate are the Sprig (Dafila acura) and Baldpate (Mareca americana), with, of course, the ever-present Mudhen (Ful?ca america.?za) conspicuously in the