246 



Fig. 207. i^ro»i ^im^' to time she half arose and carefully 

 treaded the eggs over. 



it. I even opened a large flap in the front of the tent, 

 stuck my head out and watched her from a distance of less 

 than twenty-four inches, without frightening her off" the 

 nest. I often wondered what she thought of the new con- 

 ditions and what wonderful tales she told her mate when 

 she joined him at the edge of the pond. I think she must 

 have concluded that I was harmless, had built a large green 

 nest near hers and was as much entitled to live there as she 



Invariably when returning to the nest, after a short ab- 

 sence, she would feel of the eggs with her bill, carefully 



