46 YEARBOOK, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE [Vol. IL 



The marshlands which he between the south shore of Lake Win- 

 nebago and Fond du Lac were fairly alive with such waterfowl as Rails, 

 Gallinules, Coots, etc. Of course, it was very hot work, and at times 

 we were required to stand in the water and muck, waist deep. In 

 some cases the mud was of such depth that it was very difficult to 

 stabilize a camera, and keep the outfit out of the water. 



Often while focusing the camera on a desired subject, the Black 

 Terns, angered at my trespassing, would circle for hours, uttering their 

 rasping cries just above, and would now and then savagely swoop down 

 to within a few inches of my head. On one occasion a very bold bird 

 struck my hat. The Red Wing and Yellow-headed Blackbirds were in 

 evidence everywhere. They were so deeply interested in their own 

 affairs that they paid little attention to me. 



The marsh work was usually done in the morning, because the noon- 

 day and early afternoon sun was blazing hot. Most of the afternoons 

 were spent with the upland birds, and in the woods. It was necessary 

 to race from one nest to another in order to get the birds at a desirable 

 age. Often upon arriving at a nest that I particularly desired, and had 

 patiently watched, I would find it destroyed — in most cases by storms. 

 On June 9th we had one of the most violent electric and wind storms 

 experienced in the country, and it took terrific toll among the nesting 

 birds. All the Warbler, Oriole, and other bird nests found either in 

 small, slender bushes or in the tops of tall trees, were destroyed. Of 

 three Little Green Heron nests I was watching, not one brought young 

 to maturity. In all cases they were blown from the nests and killed. 

 Of course, on an occasion of this kind it became necessary to find an- 

 other pair of breeding birds that either by chance or by using better 

 judgment, had selected a more secure nesting site, and thus escaped the 

 ravages of the storm. 



It is a well known fact that even in a season of ideal nesting con- 

 ditions, only a small portion of the broods in a given area, reach ma- 

 turity. It was therefore necessary to keep under constant observation, 

 many more nests than were collected. 



One of the most interesting finds on this expedition was a Northern 

 Phalarope in summer breding plumage. This bird was shot in com- 

 pany with a Wilson Phalarope. Much to my surprise and delight, I 

 also found a brood of three young Wilson Phalarope. Heretofore I 

 had not known them to frequent this territory. One day while Mr. 

 Breitenstein and I were working over a wet meadow at the edge of 

 the marsh in hopes of flushing a Wilson Snipe from her nest, we no- 



