23 WATER FOWL. 



some dry place near to a pond or creek, or even 

 close to the sea-shore, is chosen as a site for the 

 nest. The cavity is lined with grass or pieces of moss, 

 and down from the parent's breast is provided in quan- 

 tities, as the eggs are laid, sufficient to cover them, so 

 that when the full complement is deposited the amount 

 is very considerable. A peculiarity of this species seems 

 to be that the eggs are not placed upon the down, but 

 are merely covered by it. The male faithfully attends 

 the female in the Arctic night until all the eggs 

 are deposited, yet during the day he seems to 

 lose all interest in matrimonial affairs, and joins 

 other males which pass their time sunning them- 

 selves on the reefs near the shore. But in the twi- 

 light they fly silently back to their partners, to see if 

 all is going on well. When upon the rocks the males 

 keep uttering a long, guttural note which, when many 

 are congregated together, sounds like a continuous 

 grunting. The males outnumber the females, and sev- 

 eral may be seen at times in attendance on one female. 

 This is in Alaska, but near the mouth of the Anderson 

 River, where MacFarlane found this species very abun- 

 dant, the reverse was the case, and he was inclined to 

 think they were polygamous, for he sometimes would 

 find two females on the same nest. This, as has been 

 already remarked, is occasionally witnessed among the 

 breeding colonies of the eastern Eider. 



When incubation has fairly begun the males retire to 

 the sea and outlying rocks, and concern themselves no 

 farther with their wives. The eggs are generally six or 

 seven in number and are of a light olive drab color. 

 Toward the end of June or beginning of July the young 

 appear, and are at once led to the nearest water, gener- 

 ally a pond or creek, and later to the sheltered bays and 



