Witp-Fowt or Witp-FowL 
tion, and canopied by the surrounding reeds being 
drawn over them, and even twisted together. In 
fact, some looked almost exactly like a larger type 
Oils Wall Samests., AS ~hasmbcen the experience ‘of 
others, we never could catch Mrs. Ruddy on the 
nest. She always skulks off, and allows not even 
a clintpse of herself: 
The other two kinds usually remain sitting on 
their eggs, flushing sooner, however, than the prairie- 
nesting Ducks, when the intruder comes within ten 
to fifteen paces. 
The Redhead 1s 
aeane at layer. 
Some days I 
HoOmd) Inala 
dozen nests, most 
of which had as 
many as teneggs, 
several times fif- 
teen, and once I| 
“ THE RUDDY DUCKS WERE ONLY JUST LAYING, AND 
flushed a Red- HAD ANYWHERE FROM ONE TO TEN EGGS... 
h ea d f ip (0) )00) WELL HIDDEN AWAY IN THE REEDS” 
twenty-two eggs—the largest set that I have ever 
seen in the nest of any bird. The Canvasback usu- 
ally had ten or eleven eggs, sometimes as few as 
seven. One nest that I found was in a very large, 
open clump, away out in the water. I saw it first 
when the bird flew at some distance from me. There 
were six eggs, and I visited it a few days later to see 
if she had laid more. Mrs. Canvasback was asleep 
on the nest, with her bill resting on her breast. I 
stood within ten yards and watched her for several 
minutes. Think of it! the famous Canvasback of 
203 
