Cong don-—Saskatchewan Birds. 
581 
somewhat peculiar: A few measured flaps of the wings are 
given and then the bird sails for a short interval, this change be¬ 
ing made at regular intervals. It is amusing to see the Pelicans 
take to wing from the surface of a body of water. They cannot 
rise immediately but must paddle along the surface for a little 
distance, somewhat after the manner of the Coot or some of the 
Pucks. The Pelicans do not strike the water rapidly with one 
foot after the other, like these birds, but the two feet are moved 
together six or seven slow strokes aiding the bird in rising. The 
favorite fishing ground of the Pelicans seems to be at the mouth 
of a creek flowing into' a lake. They were observed swimming 
about such places as late as twelve o’clock at night. 
The breeding grounds- of this bird were not discovered. 
132. Aiken ard. 
Anas boschas (Linn.). 
The Mallard, or Stock Puck as it is more commonly called by 
the inhabitants, is a common summer resident. The first nest 
of the Mallard was found on May 22. It was. situated on the 
ground near a grass-grown slough, and was partially hidden 
from view by an overhanging bunch of grass. The hollow was 
lined with grass and a} few dried leaves, and held nine slightly 
incubated eggs. Another nest, found on June 6, contained four 
little ducks, just out of the shell, and six eggs chipped and about 
to hatch. The female ACallard left the 1 nest when it was ap¬ 
proached, thus betraying its situation. The nest was built at 
the base of a clump of willows-, on slightly raised ground, over 
the willow roots. It was a slight affair, being merely a hollow 
lined with grass. The willows- were about ten feet high and sur¬ 
rounded by many similar clumps. The place was low, near a 
lake shore, and had recently been flooded so that water reached 
almost to the level of the nest. 
The eggs of the Mallard are light olive green in color. The 
sizes of some of the specimens measured are as follows : 2.2Ox 
1.61; 2.29x1.59; 2.35x1.62; 2.29x1.63 and 2.31x1.62. 
