48 Bird-Nesting 



Macdonald, tired but the shots did not seem to take any effect 

 and the animal took to his heels, closely pursued by our dog, 

 and both soon disappeared among the rushes. We had dis- 

 turbed the wolf while making a meal of a female scaup duck 

 which he had probably seized as she sat on her nest. Soon 

 after the dog returned, having given up the chase. We now 

 arrived at the creek and put up a marsh harrier which skim- 

 med away a few feet above the ground ; we sought for its nest 

 without success, so we marked down the spot, intending to 

 return some other time. 



It was now five o'clock and the station was yet over two 

 miles away, so Macdonald said he would have to leave me to 

 bring the birds along, whilst he hastened to the station to be 

 in time to meet the train. So I sat down by the side of the 

 creek and blew the ducks' eggs and washed them out. After 

 blowing over forty eggs, I found my burden lightened consid- 

 erably. I tied the birds together and managed to carry the 

 whole afternoon's spoils along with me. On my return I 

 flushed several ducks and coots from the creek, but did not 

 search for their nests. The smoke of the engine now appear- 

 ed winding its way through the western hills, and soon reach- 

 ed the station. After the train had left, I saw Macdonald 

 coming to meet me. On getting up to me he enquired, " how 

 many birds I had left behind ?" I told him I had got the 

 whole lot, and had blown the eggs which had lessened their 

 weight. He carried my gun, and on reaching the station- 

 house we found supper ready, consisting of beef steak and 

 mushrooms, to which we both did justice. After an hour's 

 rest, Macdonald asked me if I felt like going out again, and 

 as I now felt like a new man, having had a refreshing wash 

 and a good supper/we set out, Macdonald taking his gun with 

 him. We ascended the hills north of the railway, and then 

 turned round and had a splendid panoramic view of Rush 

 Lake and the creek, with the hills in the background. Mac- 

 donald pointed out to me a long white streak on the shore 

 of the lake, and told me that was the nesting-place of the 

 pelicans. 



