424 



Bird - Lore 



WILD DUCKS AT AQUATIC WINTERING-HOUSE, AMSTON BIRD SANCTUARY AND 



EXPERIMENT FARM. 



and Coot. The aquatic house proved ideal for the wintering of all Ducks, 

 even the most susceptible to cold, such as the Blue-winged Teal. With out- 

 side temperature down to 15 degrees below zero, and with no artificial heat, 

 the water of the swimming-pool never even skimmed over, and the Ducks came 

 through the winter in fine condition. Newly captured wild Ducks, as most of 

 these were, do not breed the first season under restraint. Ours had a good 

 summer in the pond and swamp, and are now in good shape for the progress of 

 the experiment. The Wood Ducks, however, reared in captivity, all laid eggs, 

 and some young were raised. 



Experimental work on a small initial scale was carried out with three kinds 

 of Quail. The eggs of the Scaled or 'Blue' Quail proved infertile, but broods of 

 Bob-whites and of California Quail were reared to maturity. Late in September 

 these began to leave the rearing-field, and are now, in October, ranging by day 

 over the adjacent grainfields and farmland, but at a regular time each night 

 they fly back over the high wire fence, are fed by the keeper, and roost with the 

 bantam foster-mothers in the accustomed place, the California Quail up in a 

 clump of alders. These latter are said to have been acclimated to severe cold 

 on mountains in Nevada, and also, being quite docile, to locate and stay about 

 shrubbery in gardens and estates, even in the heart of towns and cities. Experi- 



