IMusic of the Wild 



darkness his notes are so startling. If a belated 

 hnnter was not acquainted with the bird when the 

 deep-toned "Who, huh, whoo, who, waugh?" comes 

 rolling out of the darkness, he -well might Avonder 

 whether his imj^eratiA'e questioner used the voice 

 of bird, l)east, or devil. 



It is the marsh that furnishes the croakings, 



the chatter, the quaekings, the thunder, the cries, 



The and the screams of birdland. These notes may 



Choral ^.^^j^^ disagreeable as thev are described, but thev 



Union ^. ,..".. , . ; 



are not so m realization. At times we may thmlv 

 that Vi'e would be glad not to hear again the most 

 discordant of these musicians, but they are all dear 

 in their places, and were any one of them to be- 

 come extinct, something of its charm would be 

 taken from the damp, dark, M-eird marsh life that 

 calls us so strongly. We have learned to knoM- 

 and understand them, and they have won our sym- 

 path}' and our love. Vse would miss the strident 

 rasp, the flapping of M'ings, and the A'ision of 

 long-legged awkwardness as they rise from the 

 rushes; for these are j^rominent parts of the at- 

 tractions we go to seek. 



As the season advances the choir of the marsh 

 is augmented, not only bj^ the natural increase of 

 its true residents, but also by swarms of birds lov- 

 ing the water, seeds, and insects afl^orded; and the 

 moment they are free from other duties they come 

 flocking here M'ith their young. In early August 



422 



