330 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



abundant. About fifty years ago pickerel were put into 

 our waters, which soon put an end to most of our wild 

 ducks breeding, as the pickerel eat up all the chick ducks 

 except in the few lakes or ponds that were free from 

 pickerel. Near to Calais are several ponds and lakes 

 that are free from those fish, and the tree ducks bring 

 their young to those lakes for safety. 



I was at the Keudrick Lake, and a lad that lived near 

 by was with me. A duck (whistler) came flying low 

 toward us, when the lad threw up his hat with a shout, 

 when the old duck dropped a young one that fell near 

 us that was at least ten days old. The old one went 

 for it so quickly I almost lost it, but I got it and put 

 it in my pocket for a specimen. We were near the 

 lake and the old duck also, when we saw she had four 

 others in the water. The boy said if we keep quiet 

 she will go away and bring others, or if she is afraid 

 of us very much she will take those across the lake or 

 to the other lake. They were getting near to some 

 water grass, when the old duck made a flutter, caught 

 one and went across the lake ; it was hardl}' two minutes 

 before she returned and took another. 



I don't think she took them by her mouth, and the 

 one she dropped, if it had been in her mouth we should 

 have seen it. Mr. Eastman, father of the lad, said they 

 often took their young from one lake or river to another 

 if they thought them in danger, and said he had seen 

 them bring the young from the nest to the water and 

 then in their bills, or to go any distance, or if they are 

 any size carry them pressed to the bodj^ by the feet, 

 and the boys often by a shout made them drop their 



