148 WATER FOWL. 



able of a structure. Eight to ten pale greenish gray 

 eggs are deposited, and the female begins to lay about 

 June. 



The Canvas Back appears within the limits of the 

 United States, during the fall migration, in the month of 

 October. The duties and trials of the nesting season and 

 the rearing of the young broods in the far northern 

 regions are over, and each little family, lusty of wing and 

 robed in a fresh dress, has united itself with some others 

 until the'gathering host, making ready for the long south- 

 ern journey, spreads itself out like some great army pre- 

 paring to invade an unknown country. The sun has 

 for some time been making his daily rounds in constantly 

 diminishing circles, and the increasing time between his 

 setting and rising, with the gradual lengthening of the 

 period of darkness, all betoken the coming of the Arctic 

 night. It is time for birds to be on the wing, headed 

 for southern climes. Preparations are made for their 

 departure and much discussion must be indulged in, 

 probably both as to what they expect to see and find in 

 this, to many, terra incognita, and as to the best routes to 

 reach it. Some are present who have made the journey, 

 perhaps many times before; wise old heads that have 

 escaped unnumbered dangers and traps set for the un- 

 wary, and who have sturdily refused to listen to the 

 charm of the sportsman's well-imitated call, — charm he 

 never so wisely, — or to be allured into the dangerous 

 neighborhood of his ambush, be his decoys ever so life- 

 like and competent to deceive. But the majority of that 

 preparing host are young and inexperienced, ignorant 

 of all that is before them, and of the dangerous ways of 

 the world. But they must take their chances, like all the 

 rest of earth's creatures in the great struggle for ex- 

 istence, and the time has come to depart. 



