NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH 
rich content with the world, himself, and the 
weather. That the little ones in the nest 
are nearly ready to fly is his chiefest concern, 
for he is an ever-watchful parent. Four 
out of every five broods of red-heads that 
I have watched have been destroyed by 
snakes, owls, hawks, or marsh rats, but 
either because of greater vigilance in guard- 
ing, or because of some difference in location 
not apparent to a layman, the yellow-heads 
seem to be much more fortunate. All of 
the broods under our notice reached matu- 
rity and successfully took flight. 
The one especially described in this chap- 
ter was very slow in developing. For several 
days after the birdlings seemed to be ready 
to leave the nest, they clung to it, loath to 
try their fortunes elsewhere. There was 
much stretching and climbing out onto the 
edge, but each time, just as I was waiting in 
breathless expectation of a startling debut, 
the little brown wings would quiver rapidly, 
and with a look at me, much as to say, You 
see I can fly if I really want to,” down he 
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