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Bird - Lore 



a V with the mother at the apex, and when they were quite small, a group, the 

 mother in the midst with a baby or two on her back. The days passed and the 

 Ducks grew, and still we tried in vain for that much-desired picture. We saw 

 Tanagers, Grosbeaks and Warblers galore, Thrushes and the Pileated Wood- 

 peckers. We found nests, the Ovenbird's, Olive-backed Thrush's and Winter 

 Wren's. We fed the Crossbills on the ground hke chickens, but we were not 

 satisfied because we coveted a picture of the Duck family. The last day of 

 our stay came. In the afternoon I was looking through my glasses across to 

 the main shore and spied the Ducks entering a sort of little cove where the 

 bank was very steep and, owing to forest fires, rather bare, with fallen tree 

 trunks and branches close to the water's edge. As they did not come out, we 

 thought they were taking their afternoon nap over there, and we saw a last 

 chance for that picture. We took our camera, got into the boat and started 

 across the lake. I rowed slowly and silently, and at last we came where we 

 could see them. There they were fast asleep on a log by the water's edge, the 

 mother at one end. I turned the boat to back in, and my sister got her camera 

 ready. Holding our breath, we drew closer and closer, until the Ducks were 

 only twelve or fifteen feet away, and then Madam Duck opened her eyes and 

 started off the log, her brood traihng along, Indian file, behind. But we got 

 the picture ! 



MERGANSER AND HER BROOD OF NINE 

 Photographed by May D. Lewis 



