WINGED ROBBERS AND NEST-BUILDERS. l6l 



creeks and lakes. Indeed it is an anxious time to 

 her, amidst so many enemies, and she is forced 

 to resort to artful dodges to evade them. When 

 alarmed by an intruder she quickly covers the eggs 

 by material constantly at hand, and then quietly 

 slides overboard, and sinks so gradually that not the 

 least stirring of the water is visible. This is her 

 usual habit, although she has a quicker method of 

 concealing herself when occasion requires it. She 

 is capable of remaining under water more than 

 five minutes, during which time she has paddled 

 along the lake or river bottom out of danger, and 

 then she rises cautiously, allowing only her nostrils 

 and eyes to be raised above the surface while tak- 

 ing breath and observations. In due time, if no 

 accident has occurred, the pretty little downy 

 young are toddling about on deck, uttering faint 

 peeps, not unlike ducklings, and stretching out 

 their curiously speckled and striped heads and 

 necks, as if to inquire the meaning of the sudden 

 light. The floating home, by being in the water 

 so long, has become leaky and uncomfortable, so 

 the mother takes her children on her back that 

 they may bask in the sunlight and be strength- 

 ened. They must be fed also, so before diving 

 she carefully tucks them under her wings, placing 



