302 



Till-: WESTERN MARSH 



v|y< 



EN. 



lime is ill the spring, when the male shoots up into the air a few feet alxjve the 

 reeds, like a l)all from a Roman candle, and sputters all the way. only to drop 

 hack, extinguished, into tlie reeds again. This is a part of the tactics of his 

 courting season, when, if ever, a lj<idy may he allowed a little liherty. For the 

 rest, he clings sidewise to the cat -tail stems or sprawls in midair, reaching, 

 rather than living from one stem to another. His tail is cocked up and his 

 head thrown l);ick, so that, on those few occasions when lie is seen, he does not 

 get credit lor heing as large as he really is" (The Birds of Ohio). 



Since his sjihere of activity is so limited, we may proceed at once to the 



main interest, that of nest-build- 

 ing. And this is |)reciseiy as the 

 Marsh Wren would have it. else 

 why docs lie S|)eiid the livelong 

 day making extra nests, wliich arc 

 of no ]M)ssil)lc use to anyone, save 

 as examples of Telmatotlytine 

 .iichitecture? It is |Missihle that 

 the female is cof|uettish. and re- 

 i|uires the.se many mansi<ins as 

 evidence that tiic ardent swain 

 will lie al)le to support her liecom- 

 iiigly after marriage. Or. it may 

 liv, that the suitor deiiglits to af- 

 ford liis lady lo\e a wide range 

 of choice in the matter of homes, 

 and seeks thus to drive her to the 

 inevitable conclusion that there is 

 only one home-maker for her. 

 However this may be. it is certain 

 that one sometimes finds a con- 

 siderable grouji of nest-balls, each 

 of ap|)arent suitability. !)ef>>re any 

 are occupied. 



On the other hand, the male continues his harmless activities long after 

 his mate has selected one of his early efTorts ami deposited her eggs: so that 

 the oologist may have to sample a dozen "cock's nests." or decoys, before the 

 right one is found. Some empty nests may be perfectly finished. Init oiliers 

 are apt to lack the soft lining: while still others, not having received the 

 dose-pressed interstitial filling, will be sodden from the last rains. 



Tlie Marsh Wren's nest is a compact ball of vegetable materials, lashed 

 midway of cat-tails «>r bulrushes, living or dead, and having a neat entrance 

 lioli- ill Idle >ide. .\ considerable varietv of materials is used in const met ion. but 



NEST Of' \M.STtK.\ .\l.\KMl W KI..S. l.\ SITf 



