44 



MEMOIRS OF THE XUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



Early in May is the time to explore the fastnesses of the marsh, for at this 

 season one can often push a canoe through the length and breadth of this inter- 

 esting region. The piping of hylas is almost deafening, and not a one to be 

 seen. Red-\^dnged Blackbirds are the most common birds and are to be seen on 

 ever)' hand, the males, after a month of w^aiting, nearly bursting with their efforts 

 to display their gorgeous epaulettes to the newly arrived ladies. They are in 

 the air, on the partly submerged bushes, and especially on such tufts of grass as 

 emerge above the flood. The greatest numbers are to be found in the late after- 

 noon, as during the day they are foraging in the upland fields. The varied songs 

 and call notes of the Red-wing would fill a book, and are ever ringing in the ears. 



The next most characteristic sound of the fresh-water marshes in the 

 spring is the pumping of the Bitterns. It is to be heard from several quar- 

 ters of the marsh, sometimes from three or four different birds in quick succes- 

 sion and one almost expects to hear the water gush out as the pumping pro- 

 gresses, so perfect is the imitation. With the canoe skillfully and silently 

 directed towards the soimd, paddling only during the pumping, one may some- 

 times hear the preliminary gulps and catch sight of the performer with bill 

 pointed up and breast inflated, making huge efforts at this, his curious love 

 song. Every^ now and then we start a pair, sometimes two or three pairs, of 

 Black Ducks, that mount straight up on noisy \\ings and then circle about over 

 the woods, perhaps to return after our departure. They have nests doubtless 

 not far off. Occasionally we put up a pair of the much smaller Wood Ducks. 



From all the wooded islands and small clumps of bushes come the varied 

 songs of the Swamp Sparrow, and the birds are frequently seen chasing each 

 other in sport. This is an abundant and most interesting bird of this region. 

 On the islands during the migrations, the birds of a much larger area are fre- 

 quently concentrated, and along the edges one may see many different kinds of 

 Warblers, as well as other land birds. Overhead and skimming the grass and 

 the water, the different Swallows are common, except the Purple Martin, which, 

 however, appears in diminishing ranks. 



Swifts and Nighthawks, the latter often in large numbers during the migra- 

 tions are to be seen, and throughout the darker hours, the call of the Whip- 

 poor-will comes everywhere from the woods. The scream of the Red-shoul- 

 dered Hawk during the day and the hoot of the Great Homed Owl at night 

 may also be heard. 



I have omitted till the end my especial favorites of these marshes, the 

 Long-billed Marsh W'rens with their bubbling songs and delightful ways, and 

 the two common species of Rails, the Carolina or Sora, and the Virginia Rails. 

 These last, unlike good children, are much more often heard than seen, the kcj-- 

 wee of the former and the telegraphic cut-cutta-cut of the latter coming mysteri- 



