THE LEAST BITTERN 



Tl 



almost human in their expressiveness of pain, fear, 

 and angnisli. 



This is the love song of the male, and when he 

 has won a mate she joins him in singing, uttering, 

 as ho calls, a rapid cuk-cuk-cuk, followed by a slower 

 ugh, ugli, nyh, ugh. 



The Galliuules were cackling in the reeds, where 

 a uest with three hatching eggs was found, but not a 







.35. YouiiR Ec<l-wiiicfil Blackbirds. 



bird was seen. Red-winged Blackbirds were chat- 

 tering with excitement as they guided the first wing 

 strokes of their young, who perched on the reeds 

 begged eloquently for food rather than for lessons 

 in flying.^''' 



In a small island of cat-tails a pair of Grebes was 

 calling, and after the most careful stalking my com- 

 panion saw the female respond to the voice of her 

 mate. 



