131
*
Lake Umbagog.
Leonard's Pond.
1897
June 8
(No 6)
vigorously. One of the first things it did was
to begin pecking at various small objects - bits
of bark & weed - floating on the water. It
apparently swallowed several of these fragments.
After a little while it tried climbing over the sides
of the tub. When it had accomplished this feat several
times we removed about half the water but it went
up the sides almost as easily as before clinging
with its claws to the soft wood. By noon it
had learned to spring, either from the water or
from the bottom of the box, ten or twelve inches
straight upward. The muscular power & vigor of
its thick legs was indeed most remarkable and
it seemed to get as firm resistance for the upward
spring from the water as from the smooth boards.
[margin]Behavior
of young
Whistler
taken from
nest.[/margin]
  Thus far we have been unable to find any
food which the poor little thing seems to relish.
It has pecked at and swallowed a little egg yolk
and some wriggling fragments of earth worms excited
it gently at first but after getting several of
them down its throat it ejected them with
evident disgust. Indeed I fear that it will die
of starvation although it is quite willing to try
everything that we offer it.
  Late in the afternoon while testing an earth worm
it dropped the fragment which began sinking in
the water. It at once thrust its head beneath the
surface & tried to catch the piece as it descended.
This is the nearest approach to diving which
it has thus far made. It drinks often & copiously.
After a bath it preens & dries its downy plumage
with great patience & care using its bill like an old bird.