THE WHISTLER 343 
higher latitudes, and in New England are most 
numerous during the cold weather when they. 
are driven from the north country, and on our 
bays and inner coast line they are the most 
common ducks of the winter months. The spe- 
cies is widely distributed, ranging all through 
the northern hemisphere—a citizen of Europe, 
Asia and America. While the Old World va- 
riety may average a trifle smaller it is proba- 
bly the same bird. 
The Whistler nests all the way from New 
England’s latitude into the Arctic Circle, or at 
least, as far north as the forests extend. Many 
rear their families in the wild country in the in- 
terior of Maine. Their nests are sometimes 
built upon the ground, though more frequently 
in the hollow ‘‘stubs’’ of dead trees, the cavity 
lined with down from the breasts of the expect- 
ant parents. They lay from six to ten eggs, of 
a bluish green color, and larger than is the rule 
with birds of their size. 
The Whistlers seem to be holding their own 
in the struggle for existence—a thing which can 
be said of few of the duck family. There is 
good reason why they should, for there are few 
ducks so cautious and wary, placing sentinels 
