MARSH CRADLES 
for eyes, and buds for wings, lay cuddled 
down within. After satisfying our curiosity 
we tied the slit up with rushes and left them. 
Before we could push the boat away the little 
mother had entered the nest not two feet 
away from us. Four days later we went 
again. Their eyes had begun to open, and 
a light brown down covered their bodies. 
The funny holes for ears, so apparent in all 
naked young birds, were even more con- 
spicuous on them, and the little slits be- 
tween the eyelids, only half open, gave them 
a very sleepy look. Bill and legs were a 
soft, burnt-orange color, shading to light. 
Fearing to disturb them too much by pho- 
tographing them in their immature state, we 
gently replaced them in the nest and left 
them for another week. 
Six days later we visited the nest again, 
and found them so far grown that one was 
being crowded through the doorway tail first. 
Again we untied the slit and took them out 
one by one. They were beautiful babies ! 
Exactly like their handsome little father. 
127 
