26 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



On the upper side of this ancient rush 

 bush passed an almost imperceptible trail, 

 Avhich doubtless the duck would follow 

 when entering her nest. Along it she would 

 steal in the dim lights of morn and eve, 

 and just opposite the nest fade herself away 

 and disappear on to the beloved eggs. 



On the river side, and just overhanging 

 the cliff was the flight hole from the felted 

 growths of rush. The duck would reach 

 her eggs as I have suggested, by the trail, 

 and leave them on the wing, dropping quietly 

 into the pool below. 



Round these eggs there was rather less 

 down than is usually found about the eggs 

 of the Scaup or Grey Duck. 



The nest hollow was shallower, too, and 

 close by it was another similar cavity, 

 suggesting that possibly the male had spent 

 part of the period of incubation in close 

 proximity to his mate. Their cliff was of 

 flood sand, built up in past years by the 

 stream, and now again in process of 

 demolition, and its composition just such as 

 the Kingfisher also loves, velvet soft and 

 warm. These Mountain Duck may use the 



