35 



generally rises from her nest while one is yet some distance off, 

 but almost always advises one by her peculiar gquawk as she 

 leaves, and generally alights in the water in full sight. 



The nest, tied to the tall sedges or cat-tails, is built on the 

 water of coarse material, generally lined with the leaves of the 

 sedges ; and, like the nests of the water-fowl in general, is made 

 more complete as incubation advances, often containing quite a 

 little down and feathers as the hatching approaches. The eggs, 

 generally eight or ten, but sometimes fourteen or fifteen, are 

 large, quite elliptical, with strong, smooth shell susceptible of a 

 fine polish, and of a uniform, rich brownish tinge. They are 

 laid late in May or early in June, and the young are olive green, 

 with the cheeks and under parts bright yellow. 



Next to this species in numbers breeds the dusky duck. Anas 

 obscura. It generally seeks out the dry grounds, a clump of 

 bushes, the high hummocks, or the accumulation at the side of 

 an old log lodged in the marsh, or even the hollow or decayed 

 side of such log. The nest is of the finer material of the spot, 

 mostly dried grasses, is sunk into the ground, well edged up, and 

 in the advance of incubation, well filled with the dark-colored 

 down peculiar to the bird. The eggs, from six to ten, are oblong- 

 ovate, smooth, generally of a brownish or reddish, often of a 

 greenish tinge. The young are very dark olive-green, lighter on 

 the cheeks and under parts. Owing to the shallow water fre- 

 quented by the species, the eggs are generally much soiled, and 

 the bird does not leave the nest till nearly trodden on, then ris- 

 ing almost straight into the air. 



Nearly equal in numbers are the nests of the mallard, Anas 

 boschas. They are placed and constructed like those of the 

 dusky duck, sometimes, however, over water or on a muskrat- 

 house, and contain about the same number of eggs, which, 

 however, are rather smaller and of a more delicate greenish tinge. 

 The young are like those of the best marked of our domestic 

 duck. 



Both these last species breed early, commonly during May. 

 The mallard especially is greatly attached to her nest, and will 



