28 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



blades and on the warm, sweet, moist river 

 drift were deposited the four nearly fresh 

 eggs. 



The down about these eggs was largely 

 mixed with particles of soft bark and fibre, 

 perhaps inadvertently picked up in the daily 

 uncoverings of the nest, or perhaps to eke 

 out the rather scanty quantity of dow^i. 

 This nest was deserted, the duck having 

 been badly frightened by the rabbiter's dog 

 that flushed her. 



After photography, however, the nest was 

 left undisturbed for twenty-four hours, in 

 the hope that the birds might yet return. 

 The colour of Mountain Duck's eggs is pale 

 brownish cream, and their average weight 

 1088 grains. 



On October 29th I find in my diary 

 another entry of Blue Duck marked on the 

 same river reach as the three already 

 mentioned. 



This brood consisted of five birds almost 

 full fledged. Four is about the average, 

 perhaps, but three years ago on a forest 

 stream some miles from the homestead there 

 was one brood of six and another of nine. 



