NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH 
It is strange how early ground-birds leave 
the nest. I doubt if plover, quail, partridge, 
snipe, or any of their kin remain in the nur- 
sery more than two or three hours, or longer 
than just enough 
for the down to 
dry out well. A 
nest of ruffled 
grouse that con- 
tained nine eggs 
at eight a. m. 
was empty with 
broken shells scattered about at noon, 
and one little fellow was caught running 
off with the egg-shell still on his back. 
This is young America indeed, and such 
enterprise deserves more than a passing 
notice. 
There were said to be no quail in the 
neighborhood, but we were fortunate enough 
to run across a family of them in a fence 
corner on the hillside. On one side was a 
field of lush red clover, its full pink blos- 
soms reflecting the glory of the sunset sky ; 
150 
A spry little “ teeter” 
