100 



BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 



marsh, and after gaining an immense height disap- 

 peared, this time toward the east. 



"As the sun rose over the Palisades few birds 

 were on the wing, but great flocks were perched in 

 the reeds on the banks of the creek, and as in my 

 canoe I drifted slowly 

 up to them, they seemed 

 unmindful of my pres- 

 ence, when, as though at 

 a signal, they arose as 

 one bird, and after hov- 

 ering lightly overhead 

 returned to the reeds. 



"The tide was low, 

 and along the shore sev- 

 eral Sora Rail were feed- 

 ing, and, as carried by 

 the tide I floated noise- 

 lessly by, they paused in 

 their search for food, and 

 with tails upraised re- 

 garded me with evident 

 astonishment. A mink 

 approached the shores of 

 a small inflowing stream, 

 hesitated, then plunged 

 in, crossed, and disap- 

 peared in the tall grasses on the opposite side. The 

 air was vocal with the calls of Red- winged Black- 

 birds, the chink of Bobolinks, and the rattle of 

 Swamp Sparrows. 



" On a reed-grown point below was another great 

 army of Swallows. With surprising regularity a 



49. Tree Swallows in tree. 



