THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



coop for two weeks, after which she was al- 

 lowed to walk out on the lawn with her charges 

 from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. Being an old hen, with 

 strong maternal instincts, she continued to 

 brood the foster family for eight weeks. 

 After that we made a cage-like inclosure of 

 wire netting at the end of the orchard, and 

 extended it into the river, put a rough shelter 

 at one corner and imprisoned one pair of birds. 

 In the marshy land, much farther from the 

 house and farm buildings, another inclosure 

 was made, six feet high, but having no wire 

 over the top, as we wanted to try the experi- 

 ment of allowing the birds their liberty when 

 old enough to safely protect themselves. Be- 

 fore they attempted flight a natural wild duck 

 was discovered in the yard one morning. At- 

 tracted by the cry of the young ones, it had 

 evidently flown in over the top of the wire 

 netting, which had confused and prevented its 

 escape, for the poor thing was lying, half 

 stunned, in a corner. It was captured and 

 transferred to the inclosure in the orchard, 



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