260 



WITH NATURE AND A CAMERA. 



had known birds succeed in hatching off clutches 

 of from two to ten, and had seen, during his long 

 experience, one nest containing fourteen and another 

 nineteen eggs, but in neither case were any duck- 

 linofs brouo-ht off. There can be but little doubt 

 that in these last cases two or more females must 

 have contributed. I found two nests one day 

 within a foot of each other. One of them had 

 seven stale eo^o-s in it covered with sodden down. 



WILD DUCK ON NEST. 



and the other the remaining shells of a successful 

 hatch off. 



Although I have found and examined a goodly 

 number of Eider Ducks' nests, T have never }'et 

 met with one which could beat the Wihl Duck at 

 lining one, in ])()int of (quantity of down emj)l<)\'ed. 

 The above illustration of a Wild Duck on her 

 nest was ()l)taincd (^lose to London, and sliows to 

 Avhat a remarkable extent the bird must have 

 denuded her undcr-parts. 



Wiien leaving tlie nest of her own accord, this 

 down is carefully folded over the ^'^'^^•, and, whether 



