Their average size is 2.40 inches long 

 by 1.70 inches wide. Incubated eggs of 

 this species, hke the eggs of other north- 

 ern ducks, are usually surrounded by a 

 quantity of down, plucked from the 

 female's breast. The down of the Can- 

 vas-back is much darker than that of the 



redhead, the latter having a grayish 

 white down and the Canvas-back's being 

 slaty gray or mouse color. 



A single nest is frequently found con- 

 taining eggs from each of the above 

 ducks, but seldom more than one species 

 assists in hatching the eggs. 



Gerard Alan Abbott. 



THE JIG TREE. 



There's a tree that the Germans call poppel 

 (It really ought to be hoppel). 



For when summer launches 



Her breeze in the branches 

 The leaves won't keep still, not a minute. 

 I suppose there is lots of fun in it. 

 For they take to prancing and reeling and dancing 

 When breezes forget to begin it. 



It isn't a big tree, 



I call it a jig tree— 

 A happy-go-lucky jig tree. 



When spring on old winter is gaining, 

 Then poppel tree just sets to raining. 



From buds brown and shining, 



Such a lot of soft twining. 

 Grey catkins ! and they take to waving, 

 Just like the young leaves they're behaving. 



They dance full as lightly. 



So fluffy and sprightly, 

 Spring fringes in sunlight a-laving. 



Gay silver leaved poppel, how cunning 

 When spring sets the rivers a running, 



The way your grey dazzle of tassels 



Keep time to the singing of throstles ! 

 Soon you fall, then the leaves take your places 

 So daintily poised ; watch the graces 

 Of riotous stirring, all tipsily whirring 

 In a tumult of frolicsome races ! 



If you're not a big tree, 



You're surely a jig tree — 

 A happy-go-lucky jig tree. 



— Belle Hitchcock. 



