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A FLOATING ISLAND 
swims out into the sunlight. With long, distended, 
slender toes he is a poor swimmer, but does not seem 
eager to increase his speed. Leisurely idling on the 
clogged water, he seems a natural inhabitant of a 
floating island. His indolence suddenly ends with a 
fluttering, splashing rush into the floating haven, and 
the cause of his sudden alarm is seen in the careless 
approach of a canoe. 
Marsh Wrens dart about among the waving rushes, 
scolding the invaders and creating a continuous 
disturbance. Sora Rails chatter loudly, as if deter- 
mined to make the protest more effectual, but the 
hiding Gallinule is discreetly silent. Two globular 
nests of the Marsh Wrens are neighbourly adjacent 
in the suspending rushes, but these little atoms of 
industry often build more nests than they require. 
A Redwing's nest, from which the brood has no doubt 
departed, is also supported by the new vegetation. 
The inhabitants of the marsh are in no way reluctant 
to choose so uncertain a location, and as it floats 
about they continue to hide and rear their young in its 
friendly shelter. A Carolina Rail, with long bill and 
awkwardly pendent legs, rises from the rushes as if 
he were about to desert his unstable home, but after 
a short, slow flight over the waving green blades he 
drops again out of sight. A little Bittern, with folded 
neck and trailing legs, rises less irresolute and flies 
over the open water to the more permanent vegeta- 
