Jan., 1915 
WITH RALLUS IN THE TEXAS MARSH 
o 
in the marsh, and began my search for the nest of that small Warbler. Com- 
mon sense advised me to begin at the site of the former nest; so I slowly made 
my way through the rushes and grasses and was soon parting the tops of the 
particular clump which in 1911 hid the tiny nest. With a quick gasp, I stopped 
in my tracks, for the moment not comprehending my find. For there before 
me, not a foot from my hands, lay the elusive nest. No, not a nest of the Mary- 
land Yellow-throat, but a 
nest of the Louisiana 
Clapper Rail ( E alius crep- 
itans saturatus) contain- 
ing eleven eggs. Though 
for the moment dizzy with 
my good fortune, 1 soon 
recovered and began to 
look around for Mrs. Rail. 
Though I searched for 
some time and watched 
carefully in the vicinity 
of the nest, she was not 
observed. 
The following after- 
noon, on June 7, T re- 
turned to the nest in com- 
pany Avith Mr. Geo. B. 
Ewing of Houston, this 
time armed with a 3-A 
Folding BroAvnie. A care- 
ful search failed to reveal 
a single rail, but the nest 
Avas just as Ave had left 
it, so Ave got busy by pro- 
miscuously shooting at 
the nest and general sur- 
roundings with the Btoav- 
nie. To beguile the re- 
mainder of the tAvo hours, 
spent in the vicinity, each 
of us took turns in snap- 
ping the other in ap- 
proved ornithological 
pose, namely : standing 
by the nest, chest ex- 
panded, and with one 
hand parting the rushes 
to show the eggs Avhile 
the other alloAvs its 
thumb to snuggle in the arm-hole of the vest. 
During the last feAV moments at the nest 1 had been pondering whether or 
not it would be best to take the eggs, for it seemed that they must be deserted. 
As much time as Ave had spent at the nest on the two trips, not a rail had we 
seen. Finally I came to my decision: Should the eggs lie in condition to blow 
Fig. 2. Nest and eleven eggs of the Louisiana 
Clapper Rail, as photographed June 7, 1914. 
Observe how securely tile nest is set among 
THE RUSHES, OVER A FOOT ABOVE THE GROUND, SO 
THAT IT IS OUT OF REACH OF HIGH WATER 
