178 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



when they were feathering, they seemed to have a period of 

 not growing well, and now and then one died from a "going- 

 light" trouble. A few even of the older young mallards 

 had it. It was clearly caused by overcrowding, being kept 

 on the same ground, which got foul, and not having access 

 to water, these inconveniences being unavoidable through 

 lack of dry ground and sudden great changes in the level 

 of the big lake in storms, so that we could not keep the ducks 

 along shore. The canvasback, with legs set far "aft," is an 

 awkward bird on land, being built for the water, and handi- 

 capped when away from it. They all did well after their 

 arrival in the East when turned out in ponds. 



Other Diving Ducks. The scaup when first hatched is of 

 a rather restless disposition, and runs around trying to get 

 out. It is, moreover, great on the standing jump, and tries 

 to vault over the fence. In a few days it quiets down and 

 becomes very tame and docile. The golden-eye is par- 

 ticularly wild and restless. Like the wood duck and the 

 southern tree ducks, it has claws especially designed for 

 climbing, and gives much trouble in scahng fences, espe- 

 cially up wooden posts. The scoter is a big but mild and 

 gentlemanly fellow, walking so upright that, in its black- 

 and-white suit, it makes one think of an auk, or even a 

 Httle man. The study of these young ducks is intensely 

 interesting. 



Two Expeditions. It is generally believed, and well 

 established as a principle, that hand-raised young ducks 

 of various species are docile and easy to breed. It was with 

 the idea of securing a breeding-stock for experimentation, 

 as well as for other studies of hatching, rearing, plumages, 

 etc., that I made the two expeditions in 191 2 and 1Q13. 

 One hundred young ducks were brought back the first 

 time, and two hundred the second. Some fresh incomplete 



