124 A FLOATING ISLAND 



swims out into the sunlight. With long, distended, 

 slender toes he is a poor swimmer, but does not seem 

 eager to increase his speed. Leisurely idling on the 

 clogged water, he seems a natural inhabitant of a 

 floating island. His indolence suddenly ends with a 

 fluttering, splashing rush into the floating haven, and 

 the cause of his sudden alarm is seen in the careless 

 approach of a canoe. 



Marsh Wrens dart about among the waving rushes, 

 scolding the invaders and creating a continuous 

 disturbance. Sora Rails chatter loudly, as if deter- 

 mined to make the protest more effectual, but the 

 hiding Gallinule is discreetly silent. Two globular 

 nests of the Marsh Wrens are neighbourly adjacent 

 in the suspending rushes, but these little atoms of 

 industry often build more nests than they require. 

 A Redwing's nest, from which the brood has no doubt 

 departed, is also supported by the new vegetation. 

 The inhabitants of the marsh are in no way reluctant 

 to choose so uncertain a location, and as it floats 

 about they continue to hide and rear their young in its 

 friendly shelter. A Carolina Rail, with long bill and 

 awkwardly pendent legs, rises from the rushes as if 

 he were about to desert his unstable home, but after 

 a short, slow flight over the waving green blades he 

 drops again out of sight. A little Bittern, with folded 

 neck and trailing legs, rises less irresolute and flies 

 over the open water to the more permanent vegeta- 



