70 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



are Bittern, Barrelmaker, Shypoke, Plum Pudding, Bog Trotter, Bog 

 Bull, Heron, Stake-driver, Thunder Pump and others. The vocal noises 

 I will not mention, for who can imitate the sounds or songs of any 

 bird? 



We cease to listen to the cries of Botaurus and continue to rove, when, 

 lo! we have a chilly sensation in our feet, and find ourselves buried to the 

 hips in the mire. Master Muskrat is responsible for this mishap. After 

 extracting ourselves, we continue, and come to a place where there is a 

 break in the rushes. A "Coo-coo-coo-coo," and a streak of disturbed 

 water tell of a badly frightened Coot. 



A Killdeer flying over the lake, utters his loud "kill-dee, kill-dee" and 

 cautions all his feathered friends that danger is near. 



Out on the water, a mother Wood Duck sports with her flock of downy 

 children. Now she ducks her head for a tender tadpole to feed her 

 sprightly young; now filled with pride over her flock she rises up and 

 flaps her wings. How obedient her ducklings are! How they scamper 

 to her call! I think human children could take profitable lessons from 

 any of our birds. 



GREEiN HERON. Photo from life. 



We watch them with delight, when from a grapevine, nearby, comes 

 the "chow-chow-chow" of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, warning us that we 

 must hurry on or be left in the dark. We heed the warning and leave 

 the marsh for dry ground. 



Song Sparrows fly from under our feet and a Meadow Mole scuds 

 away to hide in denser grass. 



We come to a pile of logs on the bank. What recollections are some- 



