214 Brewster, Breeding Habits of Golden-eye Duck. fae 
I have seen them climb a 10 in. base board and go through 1 in. 
poultry netting when alarmed. They weigh nothing worth men- 
tioning, and they have claws as sharp as cambric needles. They 
have pricked my hands until they bled when pinioning them at 
eight weeks old. I can easily believe that they can climb up a 
hollow tree and drop 20 ft. into the grass without injury. What 
need of such sharp claws and climbing ability if not for leaving 
the nest?’’ (Forest and Stream, Vol. LII, March 18, 1899, p. 
205.) 
Audubon’s assertion that the female Wood Duck occasionally 
carries her young in her bill is so brief and guarded in comparison 
with the remainder of the vividly written paragraph in which it 
occurs as to suggest that it may not have rested on his personal 
experience, while Wilson’s account was confessedly, and Dresser’s 
quite evidently, taken at second hand and on the evidence of 
obscure and untrained observers. It is by no means impossible, 
of course, that tree-nesting Ducks occasionally take their broods 
to the water in the manner described by these and other writers, 
but if this be so the fact remains to be definitely established. 
During my first visit to the Whistler’s nest this morning I 
removed one of the young and took it with me to the house-boat, 
intending to return it after breakfast. The sudden departure of 
the mother with the remainder of her brood frustrated this plan 
and I kept the pretty little creature for two days, glad of the 
opportunity to try a few experiments with a wild Duck which had 
never seen water. I first put it on the deck where it ran about 
freely, standing and moving in a nearly erect position, lying prone 
with half extended wings when tired. It frequently called fcep- 
peep-peep-peep-peep-peep in shrill, piping tones, much like a young 
Turkey. It did not appear to be either shy or apprehensive, but, 
like many young birds, it was exceedingly stubborn and wilful, 
giving me the greatest trouble to photograph it, absolutely refus- 
ing to remain where I posed it, although it would settle quietly 
enough almost anywhere else. I next put a shallow pan filled 
with water near it. It ran back and forth through the pan many 
times without taking the least apparent notice of the water. 
Shortly after this it was placed suddenly but gently in a tub 
filled to the brim with water. For at least a minute it remained 
