Feb 27 /56/  Twice I have noticed our Ducks after feeding (once hunting for worms) in turned up ground with their beaks extremely dirty— (M^sr Pattison & Macgillivray¹) & as they feed in marshes & mud I cannot doubt they must bring seeds sticking to beak & feathers at base. They cannot clean when flying—^t1 remember how good a chance, (like Anacharis in England) a single seed in volcanic islands, would have of being ‹transported› «propagated». 18^t2

Scientific Practice: note refers to a person; reasoning from observation
Physical Characteristics: wove paper; dark grey

^t1 flying—] with blue crayon smudge ^t2 18] added in brown crayon

1. William Macgillivray, 1796-1852. DCP .

Transcription and apparatus copyright the American Museum of Natural History