100 BIRD STUDIES WITH A CAMERA 
marsh, and after gaining an immense height disap- 
peared, this time toward the east. 
“As the sun rose over the Palisades few birds 
were on the wing, but great flocks were perched in 
the reeds on the banks of the creek, and as in my 
canoe I drifted slowly 
up to them, they seemed 
unmindful of my pres- 
ence, when, as though at 
a signal, they arose as 
one bird, and after hov- 
ering lightly overhead 
returned to the reeds. 
“The tide was low, 
and along the shore sev- 
eral Sora Rail were feed- 
ing, and, as carried by 
the tide I floated noise- 
lessly by, they paused in 
their search for food, and 
with tails upraised re- 
garded me with evident 
astonishment. A mink 
approached the shores of 
a small inflowing stream, 
hesitated, then plunged 
in, crossed, and disap- 
peared in the tall grasses on the opposite side. The 
air was vocal with the calls of Red-winged Black- 
birds, the chink of Bobolinks, and the rattle of 
Swamp Sparrows. 
“On a reed-grown point below was another great 
army of Swallows. With surprising regularity a 
49. Tree Swallows in tree. 
