884 



CITIZEN BIRD 



go with Singing Birds and never be shot for food. I've 

 often had them run along in front of me on the beach, 

 piping as sad as if they were telling me how little and 

 helpless they were, and begging me to ask folks not to 

 shoot them." 



Then Olaf pushed up the creek a little further, hop- 

 ing to be able to land or else reach some Marsh Wrens' 

 nests from the boat. But one nest was all they could 

 find — a ball of grasses fastened between two cat-tail 

 flags. Olaf cut the stalks carefully and presented it to 

 Dodo, much to her delight. Then he paddled back 

 to the river, where they found Olive waiting with some 

 beautiful pitcher-plants in her hands, while their uncle 

 said that he had in his handkerchief a strange plant, 

 that ate insects. But Dodo thought that he was jok- 

 ing, and as soon as they were in the sharpie she whis- 

 pered : " Uncle Roy, you must tell me four tables — 

 Olaf knows tlie birds by sight, but he doesn't make 

 them sound as distinct as you do in the telling." 



j.jf?* " So missy is 



flattering her old 

 bird man ! Well, 

 tell me the names, 

 for I suppose you 

 can remember 

 them." 



'' Oh yes — but 

 come to think of 

 it, I don't think 

 Olaf said what 

 the Wise Men call 

 Least Sandpiper. these birds. One 



