THE LEAST BITTERN 



71 



almost human in their expressiveness of pain, fear, 

 and anguish. 



This is the love song of the male, and when he 

 has won a mate she joins him in singing, uttering, 

 as he calls, a rapid cuk-cuk-cuk, followed by a slower 

 ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh. 



The Gallinules were cackling in the reeds, where 

 a nest with three hatching eggs was found, but not a 



35. Young Red-winged Blackbirds. 



bird was seen. Red-winged Blackbirds were chat- 

 tering with excitement as they guided the first wing 

 strokes of their young, who perched on the reeds 

 begged eloquently for food rather than for lessons 

 in flying. 35 



In a small island of cat-tails a pair of Grebes was 

 calling, and after the most careful stalking my com- 

 panion saw the female respond to the voice of her 

 mate. 



