MALLARD DUCK REMOVING HER EGGS. 67 



some moments of intent gazing in my direction she ven- 

 tured on to the nest, but as every movement still betrayed 

 her anxiety, I dropped the shutter and secured a portrait 

 in this attitude (Plate 2). With infinite care and caution 

 I managed to change my plate almost noiselessly, during 

 which process, however, she slipped off and crouched at a 

 distance, but soon returned and commenced pulling down 

 and material out of the nest and arranging it under the 

 eggs that were removed. She then settled down to brood 

 over these four eggs, eyeing those in the nest all the while 

 and frequently pulling out more down . More cautiously even 

 than before I removed the plate, focussed afresh, and photo- 

 graphed her (Fig. 1). She then took fright and went away. 



As a gale of wind was blowing all the time, I had to 

 come out and remove bits of loose reed which had blown 

 across my path ; I also replaced the four eggs and down 

 inside the nest, returned to my shelter, and waited. It 

 was just two hours before the duck came back ; mean- 

 while some reeds had blown down, but these I dared not 

 remove, as the bird was always near at hand. She then 

 began taking out the eggs one at a time by pushing them 

 under her chin (Fig. 2), guiding them with her bill down 

 the soft slope of her breast, and so " easing " them to the 

 ground. It was all so quickly done ; four more were 

 removed in as many seconds, and these she then pushed 

 one by one along the narrow trackway that most marsh- 

 birds make to and from their nests, tiU about eighteen 

 inches away, and well within the shady rushes. There 

 she brooded over them with her tail towards me. I waited 

 some time, but nothing happened, neither did she worry 

 about the six neglected eggs in her nest ; birds have 

 curious limitations, which vary with individuals. 



As the situation was now duU and uninteresting I 

 went home to lunch, first replacing the eggs. On my 

 return at 2.30 she had again removed four to the same 

 spot, which I as persistently put back into the nest, and 

 waited till 5.30, but she would not show herself, so, 

 partially covering up the eggs, I left her. 



