MARSH CRADLES 
dummy nest in full view of us. Evidently 
his heart was not 1n his work, or our pres- 
ence made him nervous, for it was not well 
done and he left it one-third completed to 
commence another a few feet farther away. 
This was repeated day after day, until four 
had been started and two finished in a 
radius of ten feet by the same industrious 
builder. All the material brought was wet, 
having just been picked from the water. 
He was a handsome happy little chap, in a 
coat of brightest brown and cream buff, 
much more attractive than his relative, the 
short-billed marsh wren, and more musi- 
cal. The song of the short-billed is like a 
shrill childish chatter, only ceasing from 
lack of breath, while the long-billed is a 
clear, silvery tinkle like a chime of silver 
bells. The nests can scarcely be distin- 
guished, but I think those of the long-billed 
are more carefully concealed and less likely 
to be dummy.” 
Not once did he go near his real treasure. 
The four beautiful tiny brown eggs were 
123 
