Anas obscura. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1897. could 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 through 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 Fulica as she rose and fell gracefully on the swell. This nest measured in situ 12 by 13 inches 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 foreground. The nest was a rather thin mat 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, S.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 covered with a coating of dry leaves perfectly free from undergrowth, weeds, grass or other low cover but partially