A North Dakota Slough 



U7 



scanty affairs, merely a few straws on little grassy tussocks, often arched 

 over above, but barely concealing the eggs from view. The Soras' nests 

 were more substantially made of dead reeds, but were generally plainly 

 "visible. A little farther out, where the grass was a little taller and the 

 vv^ater deeper, we began to find the nests of the Red-winged Blackbirds, — 

 characteristic nests of the species, but often containing eggs of the Cow- 

 bird, and, in one case, two eggs of this prolific parasite. 



But by far the most abundant birds in tne slough were the Yellow - 

 headed Blackbirds, the characteristic bird of every North Dakota slough ; 



COOT'S NEST 



they fairly swarmed everywhere, and the constant din of their voices became 

 almost tiresome. The old male birds are strikingly handsome with their 

 bright yellow heads and jet black plumage, offset by the pure white patches 

 in their wings, the duller colors of the females and young males making a 

 pleasing variety. The commonest notes, the song most constantly heard, 

 suggests the syllables "Oka wee wee," the first a guttural croak, and the 

 last two notes loud, clear whistles, falling off in tone and pitch, the whole 

 song being given with a decided emphasis and swing. They also have a 

 low guttural "Kruk," and sometimes give the last two notes only of the 

 first song. 



They seem to feel most at home in the tall, thick reeds, clinging readily 

 to the smooth, upright stems, mounting to the slender, swaying tops to 



