362 BULLETIN OF THE 



ABAMID^E. 



149.* Aramus giganteus Baird. Crying Bird. "Limpkin." 

 This singular and stupid bird is at present more or less common about 

 the grassy lakes and bayous from Lake Dexter southward. Now that 

 Florida has become such a favorite winter resort for health-seekers, 

 pleasure-seekers, and sportsmen, it will be surprising if it is not soon 

 exterminated, as it seems to have almost no fear of man or the gun. 

 They are generally seen in pairs, rarely, however, more than a few 

 occupying the same vicinity ; and when one of a party of them is shot, 

 the others, instead of seeking safety by flight, remain and salute the 

 intruder with their singularly discordant cries. Their excellent flesh 

 will tend to favor their rapid extermination. They build their nests in 

 bushes along the river and its bayous, occasionally at a considerable 

 height, but make no effort to conceal them. At Hawkinsville I found 

 a newly built nest, containing a single egg, March 20th, and a few days 

 later, at Lake Dexter, I met with young nearly full grown. Hen«e 

 they must breed very early, and, perhaps, somewhat irregularly. Dr. 

 Bryant gave the first detailed account of the habits of this bird,* to 

 which there is little to be added. He says he found it more or less 

 common on the St. John's from Lake George to Lake Harney, but 

 most abundant on the Wikiva Creek, which empties into the St. John's 

 about twenty-five miles below Enterprise. This account agrees with 

 my own experience in respect to its distribution. I did not ascend the 

 "VVikiva, but was informed that this bird was much more abundant there 

 than on the St. John's. Dr. Bryant says that incubation usually com- 

 mences in February, and that the number of eggs it lays is very large, 

 sometimes numbering fifteen. Its popular name in Florida is " limp- 

 kin." 



Possessing many features that ally them to the rails, they in other 

 respects resemble the herons, and especially the ibises, besides having 

 peculiar characters which mark them as a group distinct from either. 



ANATID^. 

 150.t Anas boschas Linnif. Mallard. 

 "Common all winter in very large flocks." — Boardman. Audubon 

 speaks of their occurring in such numbers in portions of Florida, when 



* Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. Vn, p. 12. 



