Breeding Birds op an Iowa Farm 



75 



monly in small colonies in the swanijis. Nest generally built on a de- 

 serted niuskrat house. In the spring and fall they follow the plows in 

 great flocks, picking up the insects turned up. Picture was taken June 

 18, 1910. The nest was, as usual, on an old muskrat house. 



3. Anas platyrhynclws. Mallard. A common migrant, but rather 

 rare breeder. On July 24, 1910, I saw a female and nine partly grown 

 young in one of the small ponds. 



4. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. Common breeder. Nests 

 generally found in the long grass bordering the swamps. 



5. Botaurus lentiginosus. Bittern. One nest containing five eggs 

 was discovered in a hay field on the ground on June 15, 1909. June I'.i, 



NEST AND EGGS OP KILLDEEK 



1910, I found another nest containing four young within a few feet of 

 the place where the 1909 nest was located. Picture taken June 15, 1909. 



6. Ixobrychus exilis. Least Bittern. Common about the swamps 

 every year, but only one nest was ever discovered. That was found 

 June 10, 1909. It contained five eggs and was a platform built in the 

 reeds over the water. 



7. BaUus elegans. King Rail. Common summer resident and breeder. 

 Nests usually built in the thick grass around the small swamps, though 

 they were occasionally placed in the hay fields some distance from the 

 water. A photo of a nest of this species containing 14 eggs was taken 

 June 24, 1907. 



