MARSH CRADLES 
This was their first taste of freedom^ and 
how they revelled in it 1 Looking about 
over the wide stretch of waving green marsh- 
grass^ they chirped a startling imitation of 
their father's tinkling song and quivered 
with delight. Not once had one of the four 
opened his mouth as if hungry^ even when 
left alone. After a reasonable length of time 
we tucked them back in the nest again and, 
tired out, they were glad to stay there. 
During the hour or two we were playing 
with the babies the father and mother re- 
mained within a few feet, calling somewhat 
anxiously but not greatly alarmed. I held 
a little one out on my hand and went almost 
up to the mother before she took wing. 
Had not the great heat (io6°) driven us out 
of the marsh, I am sure more patience in 
waiting would have conquered her fear of 
me, and she would have fed him on my 
hand. Before we were four feet away, she 
had returned to them with a fat -June bug 
in her beak, and all was serene again in the 
little home. 
