360 FEATHERED GAME 



are made during the winter months, the breed- 

 ing and summer seasons being spent in the 

 far north. 



Their nests are made upon the ground and 

 on the shore of some fresh water pond near the 

 sea. These contain from four to seven grayish 

 eggs. As soon as the youngsters are fairly well 

 grown and able to take care of themselves they 

 are taken out into the wide world of the ocean. 

 For their food the sea furnishes an unfailing 

 supply of marine animals and mollusks, which, 

 however, makes their flesh very dark and to 

 most palates very unpleasant. They are very 

 fond of the ''sand fleas" and marine creatures 

 of the seaweed and beaches. 



They leave our coasts for the breeding 

 grounds, on the shores of the Arctic seas and 

 among its islands, during the latter half of 

 April or the first of May, to return again, 

 southward bound, in October or November, ac- 

 cording to the season, remaining in our waters 

 all winter. 



Because their flight is very swift and they 

 decoy well great numbers of Squaws are killed 

 each year by the gunners who shoot them mere- 



