BIRDS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
125 
plumage. So intent, however, was the mother-bird upon the faithful dis- 
charge of her joyous home-duties, that she heeded not the stately sloop, 
then nearly conij^leted, as it lay upon the stocks close-by, -with its hull 
looming up within twelve feet of her home, darkened with the presence, 
and reverberating with the noise of wmrkmen, hut continued to pass in 
and out as though unconscious of the so near approach of danger. 
Audubon claims that the male deserts the female when the period of 
sitting commences, and joins his sterner brethren, who unite into flocks 
of considerable numbers, and keep apart from their partners until the 
young are fully matured, when young and old of both sexes come 
together, and thus remain until the return of another breeding-season. 
From what has been said above, it must be evident to the reader that 
the female is wholly concerned with the duties of incubation. For a little 
more than twenty-one days she is thus occuj)ied, and with nothing to 
relieve the monotony of her task. How often must she despair, and 
bewail the hardship of her lot, no mortal knows. But it is the decree of 
inexorable fate, and most willingly does she bow to it. But the ennui of 
the labor is in a measure forgotten in the vision which hope holds out to 
the patient little housewife. Weary, and well-nigh spent of her strength, 
she persists a little while longer, and her patience and assiduity are 
rewarded. A whole nest-full of happy ducklings gladden her heart, and 
send a new thrill through her being. While the hatching process is going 
on, the loving parent only leaves the nest when ]3ressed by the jjangs of 
hunger, and but for a short time. Before leaving, she always takes the 
precaution to see that her treasures are carefully covered with down. 
d'he young follow the mother the same as our domesticated species 
do, and gather whatever of vegetable and insect food they happen to meet 
with. They are passionately fond of the water, and best show their real 
nature and disposition when gracefully floating upon its glassy surface, or 
diving beneath its liquid depths. At an early age they respond to the 
parent’s call with a soft and mellow fee, fee, pee-e, which is uttered quite 
rapidly, and at repeated intervals. The call of the mother, when addi’ess- 
