420 



Bird - Lore 



THE CANVAS-BACK BREEDING IN CAPTIVITY 



As far as we are aware, the first case on 

 record of the Canvas-back breeding in 

 captivity occurred during the past sum- 

 mer, on the estate of William Rocke- 

 feller at Tarrytown, New York. Mr. 

 Arthur M. Barnes, who was in charge of 

 Mr. Rockefeller's game-breeding, has 

 forwarded the following account, and 

 also the two accompanying photographs, 

 which he made. 



"The drake was observed guarding a 

 part of the shore of a lake not far from 

 one of the main drives, and, upon investi- 

 gation, a remarkable nest was discovered 

 two feet from the shore under a heavily 

 foliaged weeping willow, and amidst a 

 tangle of bittersweet. The structure was 

 made from the long pliable twigs of the 

 willow and was about two feet broad at the 

 base, with a very perfect feather-lined 

 bowl of a nest six inches above the ground. 



"There were six eggs, and the female 



had begun to incubate. She was not dis- 

 turbed until we judged she had sat on the 

 eggs about three weeks. Photographs 

 were taken of the Duck and nest and then 

 her eggs were removed and placed under 

 a hen, and other eggs given the Canvas- 

 back to incubate. 



"Three promising ducklings were 

 hatched, two of the eggs being infertile. 

 Some difficulty was experienced at first 

 in getting the ducklings to feed, but, as 

 they drank readily, feed was placed in 

 their water-fountain and they soon 

 learned to eat; and now at the age of one 

 month no one would suppose their appe- 

 tites had ever been weak. The unusual 

 wildness they showed at first is being 

 gradually overcome. 



"The parents of these ducklings when 

 half grown, were brought to Mr. Rocke- 

 feller by H. K. Job, who had hatched and 

 reared them to that stage while on his 



CANVAS-BACK ON HER NEST, TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK 



