182 Bird-Nesting 



in most of the lakes and sloughs. They have a habit of follow- 

 ing the plough like crows, and devour the worms and grubs 

 that are turned up by the plough. 



Yellow-headed blackbirds were very numerous, and I kept 

 tun Hug nests in every clump of rushes. The nests are attach- 

 ed to the tall rushes, and wild rice, and are deep cup-shaped 

 structures, tirmly woven together. 



I came across a number of marsh wrens' nests, and after ex- 

 amining several, I found one containing six eggs. In taking 

 the eggs out of the nest, I saw they were those of the short- 

 billed marsh wren. They are glossy white, and are about the 

 same size as those of the long-billed marsh wren. 



I flushed a marsh harrier, but could not find its nest, and a 

 short time afterwards a duck flew out of a clump of rushes ; it 

 was soon joined by the male bird, and they lighted in the 

 water a short distance from the shore. They were a pair of 

 ring-necked ducks, and I was pleased to find their nest, con- 

 taining nine eggs, which proved to be partly incubated. The 

 nest was made of sedges, and lined with grasses, feathers, and 

 down ; a basket-shaped structure, built in centre of a tussock 

 of rushes. The eggs are olive-grey, with a butty tinge, and 

 are very similar to eggs of the scaup cluck in size and colour, 

 averaging 2.25x1.58. 



The male bird has an orange-brown collar round its neck, 

 but this is lacking in the female. This species has been obtained 

 in Europe. The red-headed pochard is a common duck at L< >ng 

 Lake, snd I saw a number during my stay here. They make 

 a nest like that of a coot, a basket-shaped structure of seders, 

 with a large cavity in the centre, lined with feathers and 

 .down. From seven to twelve eggs are laid ; they are creamy 

 buff, and are as large as the egg of the canvas-back duck. The 

 eggs of the canvas-back can be distinguished from those of tjie 

 red-head by their greenish-grey tint, the eggs of the red-head 

 being buffy cream, with a polish on them. 



As my hat and handkerchief were now full of eggs, I waded 

 to the shore, and placed them with the others collected pre- 

 viously. I carefully noted the spot, so that I should be able to 



