WITH BEAK AND CLAW 27 



collection lacked specimens. He knew, however, 

 that even if he found the nest, the eggs of the dif- 

 ferent species of Rail were so much alike that he 

 could not be sure as to the value of his find until he 

 had seen the parents return to the nest to iden- 

 tify them. On the other hand, Rails are sus- 

 picious birds, and Shan remembered that he might 

 have to lie motionless near the nest for several 

 hours before the parent birds would dare to re- 

 turn, and he felt himself pledged to attempt the 

 capture of the Fish-Hawk's nest. 



So, plodding on through the soggy marsh 

 ground, avoiding the treacherously bright green 

 patches which looked solid but always told of quag- 

 mire to a trained eye, Shan came to a sandier part 

 of the country, dotted with yaupon bushes and 

 scrub palmetto. Thence the ground rose slowly 

 into a thinly wooded district with holly, live-oak, 

 persimmon, swamp pine, hickory, and sand-bar 

 willow. 



Here, bird life was abundant, and though his 

 eye was attracted to the darting presence of a little 

 Redstart, that candle-flame of the woods, Shan had 

 thought for only one thing — the Fish-Hawk's nest. 

 It seemed a shame to rob the bird of his eggs just 

 after the Bald Eagle had robbed him of his break- 



