can even be said to represent it, the canvas-back ranges all over North America, 

 and breeds from Upper California, amid the lakes and water courses of the 

 mountains, in eastern Oregon in similar lofty situations, and in some other 

 states on our northern border, to and throughout Arctic regions, probably to 

 the sea. 



The places within the limits of the United States suitable for this duck to rear 

 its- young unmolested will probably grow fewer and fewer, until in a brief 

 period it will have to rely altogether upon Arctic solitudes for that protection 

 and freedom from intrusion so necessary at this important period of the bird's 

 existence. The bottom of the canvas-back's nest is formed of rushes and grasses, 

 situated in the water, and is then built up with high sides and lined with down 

 and feathers. It is continually being added to while the bird is laying, and 

 when the female is ready to commence incubating it has grown to be considerable 

 of a structure. Eight to ten pale greenish gray eggs are deposited, and the 

 female begins to lay about June. 



The canvas-back appears within the limits of the United States during the 

 fall migration, in the month of October. The duties and trials of the nesting 

 season and the rearing of the young broods in the far northern regions are 

 over, and each little family, lusty of wing and robed in a fresh dress, has united 

 itself with some others until thegathering host, making ready for a long southern 

 journey, spreads itself out like some great army preparing to invade an unknown 

 country. The sun has for some time been making his daily rounds in constantly 

 diminishing circles, and the increasmg time between his setting and rising with 

 the gradual lengthening of the period of darkness all betoken the coming of 

 the Arctic night. It is time for birds to be on the wing, headed for southern 

 climes. Preparations are made for their departure and much discussion must 

 be indulged in. probably both as to what they e.xpect to see and find in this. 

 to many, terra incognita, and as to the best routes to reach it. Some are 

 present who have made the journey perhaps many times before; wise old heads 

 that have escaped unnumbered dangers and traps set for the unwary, and who 

 have sturdily refused to listen to the charm of the sportsman's well-imitated 

 call — charm he never so wisely — or to be allured into the dangerous neighbor- 

 hood of his ambush, be his decoys ever so lifelike and competent to deceive. 

 But the majority of that preparing host are young and inexperienced, ignorant 

 of all that is before them, and of the dangerous ways of the world. Pait they 

 must take their chances, like all the rest of earth's creatures in the great 

 struggle for existence, and the time has come to depart. 



With a roar of wings like the sound of many waters, as if actuated by 

 a single impulse, the feathered army rises in the air. and, captained by a few 

 old birds, survivors of many a battle, the return journey commences. With 

 a few preparatory wheels around the \'icinity of their summer home, which 

 many of them will never see again, the leaders head to the south, and, at a loft\' 

 height, guide the main body at a great speed toviard the promised land. 



On Puckaway Lake, in Wisconsin, can\as-backs and redheads would always 



563 



