THIRD WEEK] June 143 



by all the wrens in the vicinity. Slowly the scaly creature 

 pushes himself up on the reeds; and as they bend under 

 his weight he makes his way the more easily along them 

 to the nest. His head is pushed in at the entrance, but 

 an instant later the snake twines downward to the water. 

 The nest was empty. Again he seeks an adjoining nest, 

 and again is disappointed; and now, a small fish attracting 

 his attention, he goes off in swift pursuit, leaving untouched 



THE MARSH. 



the third nest in sight, that containing the precious eggs. 

 Thus the apparently useless industry of the tiny wrens 

 has served an invaluable end, and the tremulous chorus is 

 again timidly taken up little hymns of thanksgiving we 

 may imagine them now. 



These and many others are sights which a half-hour's 

 tramp, without even wetting our shoes, may show us. 

 Before we leave, hints of more deeply hidden secrets of 



