Grass is <3reen 



pairs, it is more than probable that they are given 

 to permanent marriage, like their distant European 

 cousins, the storks. It is quite certain that many 

 species of birds are mated for life rather than for a 

 season, and this obtains, too, among migratory 

 birds. Of course there has been a great deal of 

 ridicule heaped upon such a statement, but how- 

 ever glib the critic, he cannot alter facts ; and not 

 all the truth about birds is down in the profes- 

 sional bird-books. 



By sitting very still, I was probably mistaken for 

 a branch of the prostrate tree; at any rate, once 

 the bitterns came within five feet of me, and I had 

 my one excellent chance to note them carefully. 

 They kept up a low chattering hum that seemed 

 uttered without any opening and shutting of the 

 beak. One of them had a snipe-like habit I had 

 not previously noticed. It arched its neck, curved 

 its back, and slowly elevated and half-spread its 

 wings. I have seen the yellow-legged tattlers do 

 this, and recently saw the same movement made 

 by a female pintail duck, and but for the broad 

 bill, the bird looked like one of our larger sand- 

 pipers, such as used to congregate in the salt 

 marshes of our seacoast. A slight movement on 

 my part startled the bitterns, and they flew off with 

 a harsh cry and awkward flapping of the wings, 

 very unlike their usual methodical flight. 



The marsh-wrens next commanded my atten- 

 tion. They were not far off, and I had but to bring 

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