116 



STORIES OF BIRD LIFE. 



bird and deposited on the ground at the root of the nesting 

 tree, whence they are afterwards led in a body to the 

 water. Still others say that the young drop from the nest, 

 spreading their feet and 'moving their wings to break the 



force of their fall. This nest 

 was a mile and a half distant 

 from the nearest body of water ; 

 to reach it, if the young walked, 

 they would be forced to pass 

 through forest and plowed 

 fields; surely a most tiresome 

 and perilous undertaking. 



The next morning I crossed 

 the field to the shallow arm of 

 the grassy lake from which the 

 ducks had so often come. Ap- 

 proaching cautiously I was able 

 to make them out some dis- 

 tance from shore. There was 

 much marsh grass here which partly obstructed the 

 view, but I was sure that I detected a number of young 

 ducks swimming with them. Being satisfied that the 

 family was now located, I went up the shore some 

 distance and, entering my canoe, came cautiously back 

 toward the feeding birds. I used every precaution. Lying 



