60 Wild Bird Guests 



is hopping to a perch or hurrying very fast, at 

 which times they are spread somewhat as a 

 domestic fowl's wings are spread under similar 

 circumstances. On one occasion Mr. Fisher was 

 about to photograph the nest and eggs of one 

 of these birds and for this purpose had parted and 

 propped back the juncus stems which hid it from 

 view. As he was about to make the exposure, 

 and with the camera only two feet away, the 

 little rail hopped back into the nest and in a 

 business-like way began to cover herself up with 

 the soft lining. Mr. Fisher photographed her 

 several times, but then desiring to get the picture 

 of the nest and eggs, he lifted her off, but at once 

 she slipped back and defeated his purpose. Then 

 with the black cloth he chased her away into the 

 tall grass a short distance, and hastened back to 

 the camera, but the little rail, as though deter- 

 mined that he should not get that picture if she 

 could help it, came skipping back and was into 

 the nest again before the exposure could be 

 made. 



It would seem that here at least was a colony 

 of birds that need not fear the destructive hand 

 of man. They had sought a refuge hundreds of 

 miles from civilization, and by their presence and 

 their activities had made an insignificant little 

 island into one of the wonder spots of the world. 



