How a New Water Witch Came to the Marsh 183 



and remained motionless for a time. Then began a series of 

 struggles in which the greater part of the nest was covered. 

 Projecting vegetation blocked the way, feet became entangled 

 in little loops of nest material, miniature hills proved too 

 steep to surmount and had to be detoured, rests were neces- 

 sary. All difficulties were successfully negotiated and in a 

 way which spoke well for the endurance and strength of the 

 young explorer. The bird heaved and struggled and looked 

 about with its large baleful-appearing eyes. Although the sun 

 shone brightly, the plumage did not dry rapidly and still 

 retained its disheveled aspect. 



At first the grebe showed no consciousness of my pres- 

 ence, but when I passed a stick in front of it about an hour 

 and a half after its emergence the bird would shrink from it. 

 At the end of another hour some reflex would cause it to 

 strike at the stick with its bill. I hoped to see it enter the 

 water, but in spite of many approaches it stopped at the 

 brink. 



"No bath today, I guess," said the girl. "And I am afraid 

 that I will have to be going. Thanks for this inside show of 

 wildlife. I'll never forget it." 



I waited for another hour, but by then the light was no 

 longer suitable for color photography and I pulled up my 

 anchors and left. 



I returned to the nest the next morning. Only two of the 

 muddy brown eggs remained. The shrill peepings of young 

 birds from the lily pads explained why. I had trouble find- 

 ing the newcomers. I searched for probably ten minutes be- 

 fore I located all three of them, the two younger ones almost 

 covered by the rolled edges of lily pads and the bird of 

 yesterday floating on the shining water and sprawled out 

 like a frog. 



The old birds did not show the timidity of the previous 

 day. They came close enough so that the black band on their 



