CHAPTER IX 



WILD DUCK SCARLET GROSBEAK KINGFISHER 

 DESTRUCTION OF BIRDS 



IT is not often that a Wild Duck remains on 

 our Brook to breed, although during the winter 

 months many pass over the neighbourhood, and 

 sometimes will stay to feed. Some few years 

 ago a pair of Wild Ducks made an attempt to 

 build and rear a brood on the bank ; but one 

 of the farm labourers living near heard of them, 

 and proceeding thither with his gun brutally shot 

 the Duck while she was faithfully sitting on her 

 nest, at the same time destroying this and taking 

 its eight eggs. It is no wonder that when such 

 treatment as this is in store for them that the 

 Ducks go elsewhere to breed. On the second 

 day of July last year, I was pleased to see a 



Wild Duck, with her brood of five Ducklings, 



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