3 
Anas obscura . 
Lake TJmbagog, Maine* 
1897. ooiild have risen up through them. The Duck did not attempt 
May 24. it, either when Watrous found the nest on the 23rd or when I 
visited it with him on the afternoon of the next day but on 
both occasions she ran to the water's edge starting the first 
time directly under foot (Watrous says he nearly stepped on 
her), the second time when I was about 8 ft. from the nest 
scuttling off tlirough the thicket nearly as fast as a man 
could run on open ground. On reaching the water she flew a- 
bout 40 yds. and alighted swimming slowly off swaying her head 
and neck back and forward like a Pulica as she rose and fell 
gracefully on the swell. 
This nest measured in situ 12 by 13 inohes across the 
top by 3 1/2 inches deep. I took some fine photographs of it 
both before and after cutting away the spruces in the fore¬ 
ground. The nest was a rather thin of pine needles and 
birch leaves mixed with down, and lining a deep, symmetrical, 
perfectly circular hollow with a raised rim formed evidently 
by the earth which the bird had scraped out of the middle. 
Nest found May 24. Nest, 10 eggs, 3.E.point of Bear 
Island about 20 yds. from Lake in three directions on level, 
perfectly dry ground 4 or 5 ft. above high-water mark, ground 
°overed with a coating of dry leaves perfectly free from un¬ 
dergrowth, weeds, grass or other low cover but partially 
