BIRDS OF PEASEMARSH 



fortune when it had still thousands of miles 

 farther to fly to its home on the Arctic shore. 



It has always been hard to protect the wild 

 Ducks here. Years ago they were very numer- 

 ous, but they disappeared rapidly as rifles be- 

 came more plentiful and motor cars brought 

 the gunners from neighboring towns, but now 

 that they have special protection here a few 

 have come back. 



On the other side of the river is a pond long 

 known as the Duck pond, having been given 

 its name in happier days for the Ducks, when 

 they dared come in large numbers to the 

 Georgian Bay. At one time this pond measur- 

 ed over a hundred rods in diameter. Children 

 were warned to be careful when boating or 

 skating there, for the pond was very deep; in 

 fact it was vaguely whispered that it was bot- 

 tomless. Around it grew reeds and bushes that 

 sheltered the Ducks. 



But alas for the great pond ! the fire got into 

 the bush around it, and before it could be 

 checked most of the trees about the pond were 

 swept away. After this it dwindled until it 

 became but a small frog pond, with no shelter 

 about it for the wild Ducks. The Ducks that 

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