3 Clangula clangula americana. Lake Umbagog, Maine. 1897. mine. It was arranged between us that if the Whistler began June 8. taking out her young while I was absent he would shout a few times to let me know of the fact. I had just finished breakfast when I heard this signal and jumping into the St.Lawrence skiff rowed rowed as hard as I could pull for the nest but as soon as I came in sight of it I knew I was too late, for Gilbert was standing up in his boat and paddling slowly towards the tree. Here is his account of what happened during my absence:- At 6.45 the old Duck appeared at the entrance (the lower hole) to the nest where she sat for five minutes moving her head continually and looking about in every direction included within her field of vision; then she sank back out of sight reappearing at the end of a minute and looking about as before for another five minutes. At the end of this second period of observation she flew down to the water and swam around the stub three times clucking and calling. On completing the third round she stopped directly under the hole and gave a single loud call or cluck when the ducklings at once began scrambling up to the entrance from the nest and dropping down to the water falling on top of one another. In other words the brood literally poured out of the nest much as shot would fall from one's hand. One or two hesitated or paused for an 36