30 Bird-Nesting 



grass and bits of rushes ; the eggs were clay-coloured, spotted 

 and streaked with black. A marbled godwit evidently had a 

 nest close by, but I could not find it. There was a strong 1 wind 

 blowing, and I could not go back with the raft to the place I 

 got it from, as the wind carried me over to the south side, so 

 I worked my way round the islands where I found several 

 other nests of red-winged starlings, grackles and other com- 

 mon birds. As it was nearly five o'clock and my clothes were 

 pretty damp, I directed my steps towards Moosejaw, intending 

 the following morning to come back for the raft. After a 

 wash and change of clothes, boots and stockings, I found sup- 

 per was ready. In the evening I visited the house of a native 

 sportsman, to try and learn if there were any marshes around 

 Moosejaw, and he directed me to one five miles north-east of 

 Moosejaw, so I resolved that I would visit this place on the 

 morrow. 



