IDYLLS OF BIRD LIFE 
The last visit to the nest was just twenty-three days from 
the time of its actual discovery. As I approached the spot I 
did not see the familiar form of the duck. Cautiously drawing 
near I found the nest deserted and six of the eggs gone. A jf£w 
scattered egg-shells lying near it, showed that they must have 
hatched; all but the one egg which, upon examination, I found 
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to be not fertile. 1 hurried to the river in hopes of seeing the 
Adallard and her brood. On parting the heavy gr^t\yth of 
bushes so as to get a view, I espied, to my delight, the mother 
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and her brood peacefully swimming about upon the sjkoojh i : . 
waters of the stream. Keeping carefully screened I 
the antics of the young for some time as they half paddled, h 
ran, in the water at calls from their mother. Now and then 
she would tip for a luscious pondweed or some other water- 
growth especially to her liking. 
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As it generally takes twenty-eight to twenty-nine days for 
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incubation of Mallard eggs, this set was probably about five/ 
days old when found. 
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The young, when hatched, are unable to walk well at first, 
so the mother bird carries the entire brood, one at a time, to 
the river. - Unfortunately, I was unable to witness this test of 
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tion. In about six weeks the young are able to V, _ ^ 
parental 
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