6O WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



The Lapwing, when you are far from her nest, 

 will sweep down on you, coming so close that 

 you can feel the rush of air from her wings in 

 your face ; but when you approach near her nest 

 or young, she will leave you, and fly away to 

 another part of the field, so as to draw you 

 away from her nest. 



When the Wild Duck leaves its nest, it 

 covers its eggs over with withered grass and 

 dried leaves to hide them from prying eyes 

 during her absence, and when food fails or 

 danger threatens the brood, she transports her 

 young from one place to another by carrying 

 them one by one, pressed between her legs or 

 feet, as also does the Woodcock. The Wild 

 Duck I have repeatedly seen carrying its young, 

 and on two occasions when flying past the 

 house, on my pointing a gun at her, she 

 dropped her offspring. She returned shortly 

 after, flying round, evidently in distress. The 

 young were caught and placed along with a 

 brood of tame ducks, but the female mallard 



