LONG-BILLED MAESH WEEN 203 



to make out if you would really harm their brood ; 

 at the next you are encircled by excited Red- 

 wings, who fancy their fledglings in danger ; and 

 then, overhead, the Bobolinks, absorbed in their 

 own happiness, 



"... meet and frolic in the air 

 Half prattling 1 and half singing." 



But however much you are prepared for it by 

 the other members of the choir, the first outburst 

 of the Marsh Wrens is almost paralyzing. You 

 feel as if you had entered a factory with machines 

 clattering on all sides. Perching atilt of the 

 reeds, with tails over their backs, the excited 

 little music-boxes run on chattering and scolding 

 almost in your very face, diving out of sight in 

 the cat-tails only to reappear near your hand as 

 you search for their nests. 



Search for their nests? Yes, but only with 

 gentle thoughts. The stilt-houses of these little 

 lake-dwellers surely merit the attention of orni- 

 thological tourists. As you examine the round 

 green balls of nests high up on the reed-stalks, 

 what marvelous workmen the little builders seem ! 

 They bend down the tips of the long blades and 

 weave them in together as if basket-making were 

 an easy matter to them. Difficult work it seems 

 to us to be done for the pure joy of doing, but 

 nest after nest is made around the one which is 

 actually to hold the chocolate eggs. One covets 

 the pleasure of seeing the Wrens at work on 



