NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH 
morning, it was the 30th of May, after 
a soaking rain when we expected to find 
them half drowned, they were gone. We 
knew from the distress of the parents that 
they could not be far away, but listen as we 
would, not a sound came up from the clover. 
So discreet were they, and so protective was 
their coloring, that we were unable to find 
even one of them. 
For many days they remained hidden in 
the clover field, and then we saw them flying 
to the fence and back, and finally they 
ventured as far as the wood. They were 
exact copies of the adult birds except in 
length of tail, which seemed out of propor- 
tion to their size, and they displayed the 
two white tail-feathers spreading in flight, 
like the parents. After a week’s freedom 
they grew quite independent of parental 
support, and foraged for themselves far 
and wide. 
Although we were not able to catch them, 
we did hear their first attempt at song, and, 
funny enough, it was much like a small 
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