THE LEAST BITTERN val 
almost human in their expressiveness of pain, fear, 
and anguish. 
This is the love song of the male, and when he 
has won a mate she joins him in singing, uttering, 
as he calls, a rapid ewk-cuk-cuk, followed by a slower 
ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh. 
The Gallinules were cackling in the reeds, where 
a nest with three hatching eggs was found, but not a 
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. 
