132 The Water-fowl Family 



rushes out in the sloughs, its top being canopied 

 over with the same material. The eggs are de- 

 posited before construction is complete, and are 

 from seven to ten in number. Occasionally the 

 eggs of the red-head and ruddy duck are found in 

 the same nest. Soon after incubation has been 

 begun the male leaves the duck and, seeking the 

 seclusion of larger neighboring bodies of water, 

 moults, losing the characteristic attire of spring, 

 the plumage at this time being a dull brown. 



The ducklings are hatched in July, and quickly 

 become expert in hiding and diving, soon leaving 

 the more protected resorts of their nesting-places. 

 When full-fledged they frequent more open water 

 and the deeper, larger lakes. Here they are 

 joined by other families, and the flocks form. 

 With the cold nights and first frosts of early fall 

 they push along, and by late September the 

 advance flight is in evidence along the northern 

 boundaries of Montana and Dakota. These 

 birds are nearly all females and young. It is 

 early October before we see the flocks of old 

 birds. The migration from the North is over the 

 watercourses of the interior, until near the boun- 

 daries of the United States ; here some birds 

 strike the Pacific shore, a large body pass over 

 the prairie to Texas and Mexico, wintering on 

 the larger inland bodies of water and along both 

 coasts to Central America. Another smaller 



