NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH 
housed in the oldest, most tumble-down 
house of them all. One would never sus- 
pect it of being selected for a home among 
so many fresh green new ones. The door- 
way also was on the inland side, so that it 
looked to be only a ball of dried water- 
grass among the rushes. The doors of the 
dummy nests, on the contrary, were usually 
in plain view from the lake and invited in- 
spection. The exposed position allowed the 
fierce sun to beat upon the little dwelling in 
full force, and I wondered whether the thick 
walls and roof were for the purpose of shel- 
ter from the heat or to protect from chill. 
They are so damp one would suppose the 
eggs might all be addled, but I have never 
found this to be the case. Marsh hawks 
and musk-rats cannot reach the eggs through 
the tiny doorway, so the enemies most to be 
feared are the numerous varieties of water- 
snakes. These twist around the reeds 
which support the nest, and by their weight 
break it from its fastenings, and overturn it 
after they have gorged themselves upon its 
124 
