CATALOGUE OF CANADIAN BIRDS. Tigh 
BREEDING Notes.—Breeds at Rice Lake, south of Peterboro’, 
Ontario. (Raine.) A few birds of this species were seen in the 
northern part of Labrador, July 7th, 1896. On this date anest was 
taken, containing four eggs, nearly hatched. (Spreadborough.) 
The Black Duck builds generally on the ground at the foot of a 
tree or low bush. The nest is composed of weeds and grass, 
nicely lined with feathers,apparently from the breast of the mother 
bird. The eggs are usually eight or nine in number, and are of a 
pale, dirty-yellowish drab. A nest found near Ottawa, Ont., 
on the 24th May, 1897, had eleven eggs init. It was built at 
the foot ofa little pine tree about 20 yards from the water. 
(G. R. White.) 
A very common species in the St. Lawrence valley, where it 
breeds abundantly. I have seen young broods in the counties of 
Leeds and Lanark in the month of June. This bird breeds early, 
commencing to lay sometimes in April. I found a nest contain- 
ing twelve eggs on the 24th May, 1897, under singular circum- 
stances. Anxious to know whether the loon had again returned 
to its breeding-ground in a small lake about fifteen miles from 
Brockville, Ont., I went to the place and procured a boat. There, 
sure enough, was the nest on the edge of a floating bog and clump 
of flags, and whilst I was examining that nest and the two eggs in 
it, out flewa Black Duck from amongst the last year’s flags, not an 
oar’s length from the loon’s nest. Feeling sure the eggs were 
there, I managed to reach the spot, though the bog was very 
shaky, and saw the nest with the number of eggs mentioned. The 
place where the nest was made was not exactly wet, as there was a 
matted foundation of dry weeds among which it was well conceal- 
ed, composed of dry grass and well lined with the down of 
the bird. Incubation had commenced about a week, which would 
make the time of commencing to lay about the first week in May 
inthis case. (Rev. C./. Young.) A few pairs breed in the large 
marshes in Western Ontario. (W. Saunders.) At Wolfville, Nova 
Scota, a nest of this species was found, ina slight hollow in the 
ground, lined with dry rushes, and sheltered by a clump of briar 
bushes. The nest contained two eggs which were only slightly 
incubated on May 27th, 1897. These eggs were taken by Mr. H. 
F. Tufts and are now in the Museum at Ottawa. A nest of this 
species was found at Brackley Point, Prince Edward Island, on 
June 21st, 1885, with nine young just hatched. The nest was ona 
hummock in a small marsh near the sandhills. 
