388 CITIZEN BIRD 



flesh is palatable, and it may be shot in the fall. It is not neigh- 

 borly and is seldom seen, as it lives only in the thickest reeds or 

 herbage of marshy places, where it can run over the softest mud, or 

 even floating plants, by means of its long spreading toes, which 

 keep it from slumping m. 



" To-morrow, when the tide begins to come in, we are 

 going to fisli for bluefish! " interrupted Nat joyfully. 

 '' Olaf says they are beginning to run, and there are lots 

 of crabs to catch up in the creek too — only I'm afraid 

 that there won't be half time enough for everything." 



" How can fish run when they have no legs ? " ob- 

 jected Dodo, who had not quite finished writing her 

 tables and did not like to be hurried. And then, too, she 

 was a little lady who took things literally, and liked to 

 have them exactly right. 



