91 



^ 



if wounded, till she has led you away from 



the young, or occupied your attention long 



enough for them to be safely hidden; then JS' tfj/7e/ TfacA 



she takes wing and leaves you. 



The habit of hiding becomes so fixed with 

 the young birds that they trust to it long 

 after the wings have grown and they are able 

 to escape by flight. Sometimes, in the early 

 autumn, I have run the bow of my canoe 

 almost over a full-grown bird, lying hidden 

 in a clump of grass. A month later, in the 

 same place, the canoe could hardly approach 

 within a quarter of a 

 mile without his taking " - „ ' 



alarm. 



Once they have 

 learned to trust their 

 wings, they give up 

 hiding for swift flight. 

 But they never forget ~ T^^^ -^^r" 

 their early training, 



and, when wounded, hide with a cunning that 

 is remarkable. Unless one has a good dog 

 it is almost useless to look for a wounded 

 duck, if there is any cover to be reached. 



