Birds. , 9203 
the incubator. Some ordinary chickens were hatched in it during the 
process. But two months is a long time to keep up the normal con- 
ditions; and many little delicate handlings of Nature repeatedly 
wanting, may tell. Various eggs, one after another, gave undoubted 
signs of being addled, and were removed; and all, but not till after 
they were much overdue, were eventually given up. I tried to con- 
sole myself with the thought that perhaps the whole batch, this season, 
might be barren eggs, and thus afford a possible reason why the bird 
was the more readily disturbed. Experience has since showed that 
the reason would have failed had the fact proved so. All my dis- 
appointment and mortification returned in full, when, on preparing the 
eggs for specimens, by emptying the contents, I found, altogether, a 
large number of embryo chicks, in various stages of development,— 
several with beak, claws and plumage complete,—apparently just ready 
to break through the shell! The process must, therefore, have gone 
on properly in the incubator, very nearly to maturity ; but I very much 
doubt, from subsequent experience, whether any of these, if healthily 
hatched, could have had strength to have been healthily reared. 
I think I may say my adult birds continue to improve in manners * 
and plumage every year, so far. The first egg this season was dropped 
on the 23rd of December, 1863, as usual, in the first place, down by 
the water side. Another was not found till nine days afterwards, 
namely, on New Year’s Day, and the third not till the 12th of the 
month. One, however, was subsequently found, down by the water, 
in a dirty condition, that had evidently been long laid, which probably 
intervened, and possibly more than one may have been lost. The two 
next eggs occupied four days each, and then the laying proceeded 
every third day, with the accustomed regularity, and the observance of 
the average time of four o’clock in the afternoon. The total number 
laid this season does not nearly reach to Jast; but they have annually 
increased in size, several this year weighing over 1}1b. It is - 
very curious the bird, in sitting, kept the precise anniversary of the 
year before last, namely, St. Valentine’s Day, the 14th of February. 
The number of eggs he was settled upon, in the first place, was ten. 
Extra precautions had this year been taken to shut out any unusual 
sight or sound, and promote perfect quiet, by the erection of a double 
screen of evergreens before the house, and a bar was respectfully 
placed on the proprietors of boats, not to pass beyond a certain point 
for the necessary period. 
_ The bird sat, if possible, more closely than usual; so much so, that 
a sight was not obtained of the nest till the expiration of the fourth 
