WOOD AND WASTE 37 



after alighting, would suffer us to get 

 within three feet, bending over them in 

 the dark as they lay in some tiny pool off 

 the roadside. T\'e could slowly follow them, 

 too, as the}' moved a few feet ahead in 

 single file across the dewy pasture. 



The female is an excellent mother and 

 can hardl}^ be scared into desertion of her 

 young. More than once I have caught the 

 hen on some little pool, hidden in tall 

 swamp growi;hs, one, perhaps, of a chain 

 of waterholes half overarched with carex, 

 raupo, and tiax. 



The Brown Duck's note is extremely 

 distinct and quite unlike that of an.y other 

 breed. 



When quietl\' floating in shaded waters 

 and many of the birds together, the Brown 

 Duck has a curious habit of sometimes 

 striking the water violently. This appar- 

 ently is done with its foot, and does not 

 seem to be a signal of any sort, for after 

 the considerable splash thus caused no 

 excitement or suspicion was noticeable 

 among the other members of the flock. 



This season my acquaintance with the 



