128
 *
Lake Umbagog.
Leonard's Pond.
1897.
June 8
(No. 3)
end of this second period of observation she flew
down to the water and swam around the stub three
times clucking and calling. On completing the third
round she stopped directly under the hole and
gave a single loud call or cluck when the ducklings
at once began scrambling up to the entrance from
the nest and dropping down to the water [delete]literally[/delete] falling
on top of one another. In other words the brood
literally poured out of the nest much as shot
would fall from one's hand. One or two hesitated
or paused for an instant [delete]on[/delete] reaching the mouth
of the hole but the greater number toppled out
over the edge as soon as they appeared. All used
their tiny wings freely beating them continuously
as they descended. They did not seem to strike the
water with much fear.
[margin] * 
How the
young
Whistlers 
left the 
nest[/margin]
  While this was going on the old Duck sat motionless
on the water looking up at this nest. When the 
last duckling dropped at her side she at once swam off
at the head of the brood quickly disappearing in
a flooded thicket a few rods away.
  In connection with my own observations I should
have noted that after the old bird entered the hole
two other female Whistlers flew several times over
and around me and one of them at length
alighted on the water swimming up close to the 
stub and looking at it intently as if she too
had some interest in it. On several former
occasions, moreover, we have found from two to
four female Whistlers hanging about this nest
and the same thing occurred at the nest on