380 CITIZEN BIRD 



driven some of tlieiii into the bay, where they do not 

 usually come until later in the year ; but in winter 

 great flocks of Gulls live about our beach, clamming 

 on the bar at every low tide." 



"I guess we had better tie up yonder," said Olaf, 

 when they had gone a couple of miles up the river. 

 " And then I can put the children in the little boat and 

 pole them in among the reeds." 



So the Doctor and Olive went ashore, where the 

 sharpie was tied to the end of what had once been a 

 small wharf, while Dodo, Nat, and Rap crouched down 

 in the dingey, obeying Olaf's order to keep very still 

 and not make the boat tip. 



The little reed-bordered creek that they entered was 

 quite narrow, and soon grew to be only a thread of 

 water, where they could touch the reeds on both sides. 

 They heard many rustling sounds, but for some time 

 could see nothing. Ohif, wlio was watching, suddenly 

 laid down his pole, and seizing an oar gave the water 

 two or three sharp slaps. Instantly half a dozen 

 strange-looking birds started out, flapping and sprawl- 

 ing, with their legs dangling, one or two seeming to slide 

 across the water, till they all disappeared among the 

 flags again. 



" Oh ! how funny they are I " cried Nat. " They have 

 such foolish-looking faces, little perky tails like a 

 Wren's, and such long, loose feet ! Why didn't they 

 fly instead of dodging about so — are their nests in the 

 reeds ? " 



" They do nest here ; but now that the season is over, 

 they stay about [)icking up food from the mud until 

 they sliift southward a piece for the winter. These 



