Notes from the Indiana Sand Dunes 



sank, without a ripple, without an effort. 

 Watching carefully, I soon saw his head reap- 

 pear, then gradually his back, and now again 

 that wild laugh. Far in the distance, like a faint 

 echo, an answering call floated back. A 

 gull near by burst out hilariously. In the calm 

 of the morning every bird seemed to laugh 

 forth its call, and I responded inwardly in 

 perfect accord. 



Turning inland I followed a pine-scented 

 trail to a reedy marsh; red-wings were swing- 

 ing and singing on the cat-o'-nine-tails ; a bit- 

 tern pumped; in the distance a marsh-hawk 

 sailed low over the meadows, circling, criss- 

 crossing, its white rump flashing in the sun. 

 It repeated frequently its low cry (not so 

 forceful as that of the red-shouldered hawk), 

 and occasionally a low chucking call. Sud- 

 denly, it dropped into the tall grass after a 

 lizard, frog, snake, or mouse, which constitute 

 its staple food. It also occasionally captures 



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