1 54 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



April or early May in Connecticut. In Mr. Cox's experi- 

 ments the black duck and mallard lay eggs beginning early in 

 April, the wood duck, mandarin, pintail, widgeon, shoveller, 

 and others late in April or in May, and the redhead and teal 

 in June. 



Incubation. Ordinarily it is not best to allow the ducks 

 to incubate their own eggs, certainly not the first litter, so 

 as to make them lay a second one, which is so much clear gain. 

 With most species it is hard to manage and protect the 

 ducklings with their natural mother. Of our native species 

 only the mallard and wood duck breed readily in a small 

 enclosure. A brood hatched on a large marsh or pond is 

 in great danger of natural enemies, such as turtles, snakes, 

 large fish, minks, and others. In the wild state broods are 

 often seriously diminished by these causes. On the marshes 

 of Lake Manitoba, where many waterfowl breed, I found the 

 Indians netting fish, such as pike and large pickerel, in the 

 stomachs of which were frequently found young ducks, 

 grebes, and coots, swallowed whole. I have seen broods on 

 these marshes reduced to one duckling, from these causes or 

 perhaps the effects of cold storms. A larger number will 

 usually be reared where they can be controlled. Moreover, 

 the duckhngs raised by the mother are wild and harder to 

 manage later, whereas it is desirable for future breeding 

 that they should be as tame as possible, in view of the prob- 

 lem of shy ducks failing to breed. 



In the case, however, of only a pair or two of wood ducks 

 or mandarins in a tiny pond where there is certainly no 

 vermin, it is proper to let the ducks raise their second litter, 

 especially in view of the fact that ducklings of these species 

 are peculiar and harder than others to raise. The mother 

 duck, under favourable conditions, is usually able to raise 

 them, whereas unskilled human efforts often fail. On the 



