COLLECTING AT SHOAL LAKE, MANITOBA. 67 



tered between the rocks. On the highest part of the island 

 many beautiful young Terns in downy plumage were observed, 

 and I also flushed a Spotted Sandpiper off its nest containing 

 four very well marked eggs. 



After taking a photograph of the island we waded back to 

 the point, and while my man unhitched his horse so it could 

 browse, I examined the tall grass and shrubs on the peninsulas, 

 thinking it was a likely place to find a Duck's nest. I had not 

 gone far before a Gadwall flushed up right in front of my feet, 

 and there was its beautiful nest of down containing ten eggs ; 

 these I took and had not proceeded twenty yards or so before 

 another Gadwall arose in front of me, and this nest contained 

 six fresh eggs. I called my man to come and help to look for 

 Ducks' nests and we paced over every part of this small 

 elevated peninsula, flushing Ducks up every few minutes, and 

 the excitement was intense, for in less than an hour we had 

 several sets each of Gadwall, American Widgeon, Mallard, 

 Shoveller and Pintail, and I was also fortunate in flushing a 

 Wilson's Phalarope off its nest and four heavily spotted eggs. 



Having examined the point thoroughly and photographed a 

 beautiful nest of the Gadwall, containing ten eggs, built among 

 the briars and white convolvulus and other vines, we proceeded 

 to search for Grebes' nests in the marsh and soon found two 

 nests of Bed-necked Grebe containing five eggs in each, which 

 is the regular number. The nests consisted of a mass of 

 decayed damp weeds and aquatic plants, two feet in diameter, 

 and the eggs are always covered with weeds in the absence of 

 the female. 



After dinner we drove three miles around the lake to 

 another peninsula and were caught in a thunder storm on the 

 way, so we took shelter at a settler's cabin, from whom we 

 learned that the Pelicans nested on Keed Island which lies 

 three miles out in the lake off the point. 



As soon as the storm was over we drove to the end of the 

 peninsula and could see several islands out in the lake, and as 

 the water was calm and it was only five o'clock we decided to 

 row out to the islands. So my man hobbled the horse's fore 

 feet with a piece of rope so that he could not run away, while 

 I put my canvas boat together, and taking my gun and camera 



