86 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 



May 25th and 28th, 1893. Both nests were in hollows in the 

 grass, were lined with down, and found near water. {Raine.) 



This is about the first water-fowl to commence nesting. The 

 date when the first eggs are laid varies from May i8th to 25th, 

 according to the season. The eggs are placed in a depression on 

 some tussock or among the grass and other vegetation beside a 

 pool, usually where it is pretty well concealed. The eggs num- 

 ber from six to twelve in a set. They are rather small, and 

 usually pale olive-green when fresh. The nest is lined with grass- 

 stems and feathers. When the young are hatched the parent, 

 leads them to the adjacent pool, and they keep in the most 

 secluded parts of the marsh until able to take wing. {Nelson.') 



Breeding in some numbers at Edmonton, Alberta, although no 

 nests were taken ; two nests of this species were taken at Twelve- 

 mile Lake, near Wood Mountain, Assa., on June 5th, 1895; *he nest 

 in one case was made of the dried stems of Eleocharis palustris and 

 lined with down. It contained ten eggs almostiresh. Another was 

 taken amongst some sage-brush a little distance from the water. 

 This nest held seven fresh eggs. A few nests of this species were 

 taken on an island in Cypress Lake, south of the Cypress Hills, 

 June 29th, 1895 ; the nests were in clumps of rye-grass {Elymus 

 condensatus), and one female was shot as she rose from the nest. 

 (^Spreadborough.) This species breeds at St. Clair Flats and in 

 fewer numbers at Rondeau, Lake Erie. (W. Saunders.) Quite 

 abundant in the " Barrens." The nest was usually a small cavity 

 or depression in the ground, lined with down, withered leaves, and 

 a few feathers. It lays from six to eight eggs. It deserts the 

 nest immediately the eggs are hatched and young and old take 

 to the water. {Macfarlane.) 



MUSEUM SPECIMENS. 



Four specimens taken in Toronto marsh byMr. S. Herring, and 

 at Kamloops, British Columbia, by SpreadborOugh. 



One fine set of eleven eggs taken at Twelve-mile Lake, Assa., 

 and others taken at Rush Lake, Assa., by Mr. Raine. 



LIII. AIX BoiE. 1828. 



144. Wood Duck. 



Aix sponsa (Linn.) Bonap. 1838. 

 Rare. A few breed in Nova Scotia. (Downs) A rare summer 

 resident. Breeds in New Brunswick. {Chamberlain) Stearns reports 



