Who Killed Cock Robin? 281 



theft occurred. When finally discovered, there can be no 

 definite placing of blame but only a vague idea that a coyote, 

 fox, hawk, or dog is responsible for the destruction. For 

 example, at one time a mallard nested within a few yards 

 of the canoehouse. I saw the fourteen eggs which the nest 

 contained on a Friday evening. The next morning when I 

 passed, the hen was gone and the eggs had disappeared. 

 There were no signs of tracks about the nest, no shells, no 

 evidence. If the young had come off, they would have been 

 close to the nest or in it. They were nowhere to be seen. I 

 never found out what had taken them, although the canoe- 

 house manager was sure that the rats were responsible. Such 

 cases often happen. 



There is another type of predation which immediately 

 makes itself known, and as quickly brings about the demand 

 for the elimination of the offender. I refer to the appearance 

 of the raiding "hen-hawk" which boldly enters the hen yard 

 and then flies away with its victim while the rest of the flock 

 sets up a squawking, which brings the poultry owner out to 

 watch the tragedy. There is the wandering otter which stops 

 at the farm pond and scoops up a fish while the women of 

 the house wish that John were there with his gun. Then 

 there are visits of raccoons which show little fear and im- 

 pudently take their prey when it pleases them. The animal 

 may never again appear on the scene, the total loss from this 

 "showy" predation may be inconsiderable, but from then on 

 the offending creatures and their distant relatives are marked, 

 and unseen losses invariably charged to them. The destruc- 

 tion may be the result of the predation of other animals, 

 hidden and unsuspected but constantly present in the area 

 in large numbers. Predation is one field in which it certainly 

 does not pay to advertise. 



In our marsh hotel the mallards bring off broods of young 

 varying in numbers from three to fourteen. People who reg- 

 ularly canoe learn to recognize some of the broods by their 



