3Iusic of the Wild 



a boat drift by close enough to pliutograph them. 

 The coming of a storm (levelo2:)s tlieir true plover 

 Children nature. Then they are a siglit to see, and rare 

 of the Wild jjjuj,]^. ^Q Jjear. Skimming along close to the sur- 

 face of tlie Mater, dai-ting througli reeds and 

 rushes, -wheeling, di])ping, alert, full of life and 

 grace, tliey become for the time different birds 

 from their dry weather selves. They seem exalted, 

 glorying in tlie tumult of the elements, and as Uiey 

 sail with the storm or wheel and beat against the 

 face of it, — O, wliat music! Clear, sweet, pure of 

 tone, scarce a note in the marsh can surpass it. 



Good hunting to his liking adds the rattle of 

 the kingfisher to the marsh cliorus early in ^lay. 

 His coat is as Aivid a spot in air as the sweet Mag' 

 and -water hyacinth beloM- him. Among these som- 

 ber-robed marsh musicians his bright color is a de- 

 light to tlie eye; his rollicking call a series of jolly 

 notes good to hear. They may not emliody so 

 much melody, but tliere is notliing sneaking about 

 them. They give fair notice of his coming and in- 

 tentions. 



Docs tlie A\c)rd "sneak" call to mind the crow? 

 He belongs to the marsh choir — he is a part of 

 its daily life, liis notes come Mith greater frequency 

 and intrusion than those of any other bird. He 

 is constantly slijjping everywhere and peering 

 into nests, to the sorrow of many smaller musi- 

 cians; for he is dangerous near eggs and young. 



366 



