The Domestic Life of the Dabchick 



reminded one of a little child trying to help its 

 mother with household work. 



On the nest the young not only rest at times 

 in the day, but are brooded at night ; I was once 

 able to watch them going to bed. One young 

 one, at all events, got on to the nest first and 

 waited, and when the old bird came on too, it 

 crept under its wing, being brooded on the back 

 as when on the water ; so that the dampness of 

 the nest is no drawback to the tender little ones. 

 By the time it subsides they are able to paddle 

 their own canoes by day, and sleep on the water 

 as the old birds do. This same independent 

 paddling is not very much to the youthful dab- 

 chick's taste ; when it is first forced upon him he 

 takes advantage of every opportunity to try to 

 board the old bird whenever it heaves to for 

 pluming itself. But the old dabchicks have a 

 fine notion of discipline, and a chick which 

 bothers too much is admonished by a sharp 

 peck. This is especially the case where food 

 is concerned. Dabchicks do not appear to give 

 it indiscriminately to whichever infant squalls 

 loudest, as most birds do, but will drive off an 

 older chick to give it to a younger and less 

 independent one. 



On one occasion one of the present pair over- 

 did this policy, with very sad results. There were 

 two in the brood, and, as seems to be the custom 



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