542 DUCK SHOOTING. 



tion having been issued in the next February, there 

 was rejoicing in April and May, when every pair of 

 wood ducks began nesting. 



All the wildfowl of my acquaintance nest on the 

 ground, with the following exceptions : some "tree 

 ducks" of Central and South America, wood ducks, 

 Chinese mandarins and the pretty little "hooded mer- 

 ganser," also called "little saw bill." If the other mer- 

 gansers, or "sheldrakes," nest in trees, I do not know, 

 but suspect them of it. 



The ducks which nest on the ground may be left to 

 their own devices, if you give them a chance for se- 

 clusion, but for those which nest in hollow trees we 

 must provide natural conditions. Take a box 12 inches 

 high by 7 inches square inside, tight on all sides, but 

 with a round 4-inch hole in the middle of one side, 

 set it on a post 2 feet above ground, with a slanting 

 board leading to the hole, in which fine straw and 

 leaves are placed, and the bird will do the rest. The 

 male wood duck and mandarin will stand guard at 

 the entrance for a while, but tire of it before the four 

 weeks are up, and abandons the job. Some males in- 

 jure the young, and it is best to remove the drakes be- 

 fore hatching. I have had two broods in a season by 

 removing the first nesting eggs, but otherwise one 

 brood is the rule. The male moults in June, and will 

 not take any part in a second brood; he then resembles 

 the female, and does not get his bright plumage again 

 until August. Young drakes show red on the bill at 

 two months old. 



