The Yellow Rail 



"On the way we found a belated nest of Cinnamon Teal, n/9, and in 

 a central tule patch a solitary nest, n/4, of the Yellow-headed Blackbird. 

 Wilson Phalaropes were hooting at us; and a persistent search for eggs of 

 this species yielded such good returns that we decided to return to our 

 abandoned camp for lunch, and to put in the afternoon with a drag rope. 

 Accordingly, we re-entered the swamp at two o'clock. Stevens and our 

 old-time mascot, Robert Canterbury (now 19), manned the rope; while 

 I floundered along behind, marking the rare irruptions of startled nesters. 

 A nest of the Savannah Sparrow, n/5, with fresh eggs, very light in colora- 

 tion, was the first find; and a Sora Rail's nest with only two eggs, ap- 

 parently incubated, the second. 



"We were dragging a rather thin stretch of marsh grass when a Jack 

 Snipe flushed and I called Stevens to my assistance, leaving Bobby, who 

 was more remote, standingly listlessly by his rope-end. Returning from 

 a fruitless quest, we were about to resume operations when Bobby ex- 

 claimed, 'Well, look at this!' He had been standing all the while within 



Taken in North Dakota Photo by Rev. P. B. Peabody 



n/9 YELLOW RAIL, A TYPICALLY MARKED SET 



1547 



