CHAPTER XXX. 



THE BRASS-EYED DUCK. 



The whistler, whistle-wing, great head, gar- 

 rot or brass-eyed is one of the few ducks that, 

 to my knowledge, builds its nest in trees. 



The Indians, who are noted for giving ap- 

 propriate names, call this duck "arrow duck," 

 on account of its quick passage through ,the air. 

 They fly very swiftly, and it is only an expert 

 gunner that can bring them down in succession. 



I once had the rare opportunity of watching 

 the doings of a female brass-e} 7 ed from the build- 

 ing of the nest to the time she placed the young 

 ones on the waters of the lake. To watch the 

 industrious little builder was a most interesting 

 pastime and afforded me much pleasure. The 

 tree selected was not, as one would suppose, im- 

 mediately on the shore, but a bit back in the 

 thick growth. Properly speaking, the tree was 

 a stump, although a strong live one grew rub- 

 bing sides with it. The stump was on the south 

 side of the green one, and thus protected from 

 the north, and was about twenty feet in height. 



On examination shortly after the duck be- 



15 225 



