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176 Vol. XV UNUSUAL NESTING SITE OF THE MALLARD By O. J. MURIE WITH THREE PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR HE NEST of a common bird becomes of interest xvhen found in an umisual situation, such as shows a deviation from the ordinary habits of the bird. $hen it was reported that a Mallard (,qna, plat3rhynchos ) was nesting, in a tree seven or eight feet from the ground, I at first thought a mistake had been made and that the bird observed was a Wood Duck, or possibly a mergan- set. But whatever the species, the nest would be worth investigating. Accordingly, early in the morning of April 23, well supplied with camera and films, I boarded the "Ione", bound for the duck's nest. It was a little more than two and a half hours run down the Willamette and up the Columbia to the region about Columbia Slough. The steamer Fig. 48. BRANCH OF COLUMBIA SLOUGH, OREGON, IN VICINITY OF MALLARD'S NEST stopped to put me off at "Taylor's Landing", and I lost little time in looking up the farmer who was supposed to know about the extraordinary nest. I found him at breakfast. "Yes. it's true," he affirmed. "It's a mallard all riglit." I explained to him my interest in the nest, and induced him to leave his work a while and take 11qe to the place. We followed a branch of Columbia Slough, which is here lined on both sides with ash trees and tall cottonwoods. As we .walked, my informant told me what he knew about the duck. He first found the nest, with ten eggs, about a week before, and a few days later, April ?8. opened one egg to see if the bird xvas sitting. He had in mind taking the eggs to place under a sitting hen. but found that incubation was already well begun. We presently took a trail into the woods, and I was cautioned to walk quiet- ly, as we were nearing the place. Soon the tree was pointed out to me, and we crept along carefully until within thirty feet of it. My guide showed me the location of the nest, but neither one of us could see the nest itself or the bird. I was just stepping on a log to get a better view, when off went the duck, a