. Nestlings of forest and marsh . ide, so that itlooked to be only a ball of dried water-grass among the rushes. The doors of thedummy nests, on the contrary, were usuallyin plain view from the lake and invited in-spection. The exposed position allowed thefierce sun to beat upon the little dwelling infull force, and I wondered whether the thickwalls and roof were for. the purpose of shel-ter from the heat or to protect from are so damp one would suppose theeggs might all be addled, but I have neverfound this to be the case. Marsh hawksand musk-rats cannot reach the eggs throughthe t
. Nestlings of forest and marsh . ide, so that itlooked to be only a ball of dried water-grass among the rushes. The doors of thedummy nests, on the contrary, were usuallyin plain view from the lake and invited in-spection. The exposed position allowed thefierce sun to beat upon the little dwelling infull force, and I wondered whether the thickwalls and roof were for. the purpose of shel-ter from the heat or to protect from are so damp one would suppose theeggs might all be addled, but I have neverfound this to be the case. Marsh hawksand musk-rats cannot reach the eggs throughthe tiny doorway, so the enemies most to befeared are the numerous varieties of water-snakes. These twist around the reedswhich support the nest, and by their weightbreak it from its fastenings, and overturn itafter they have gorged themselves upon its124 MARSH CRADLES contents. The brave wrens have a serioustime guarding their homes from these marau-ders, and a dread seized us each morning lestthe treasure in this one be gone. But so. well surrounded and concealed was it thatthe brood was reared without mishaps, andfive little marsh wrens were safely launchedinto a world of waving green. It took fifteen days for the eggs to hatch,and afterwards such a long, long time be-fore the first downy head peeped throughthe doorway. The mother was not a closesitter, whether because of our presence orbecause she knew the warm sun would helpin her task. It was certainly steaming in-side that round ball, and the tiny eggs feltI25 NESTLINGS OF FOREST AND MARSH like hot pebbles to my prying ringers. Sheleft for two hours at a time, and this, withan open nest in a tree, would certainly provefatal to the eggs after incubation has and often I feared that she had de-serted it entirely, and began to reproachmyself as being the cause, but always, justas my conscience became seriously alarmed,she slipped back, noiselessly as a wee brownmouse. I never saw the father bring herfood or notice her
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1902
