70 WILD WINGS 



action, as the nest was shaded, and required an exposure of 

 at least a second, even with wide-open lens. It was quite 

 a while before I secured the coveted opportunity, and could 

 proceed to photograph another brood of young Anhingas 

 just beyond. 



A few steps brought us to the west side of the island, where 

 the White Ibises were nesting by hundreds in an area of 

 rather low mangroves growing out of the water. Every 

 movement on our part caused an uproar of croaking notes 

 and beating of wings. Especially ominous to them was the 

 snapping of a twig, possibly suggesting the report of the 

 small rirte of the plume-hunters, though it may have been 

 merely the nervous effect of any sharp sound. The ibis is 

 a beautiful bird, with its snow-white plumage, contrasting 

 with the black tips of the wings and the dark carmine red of 

 the long bill and legs. With hundreds of them starting all 

 about me, and passing and repassing overhead, the effect was 

 something beyond all words to describe. 



Fortunately the ibis, though timid, is not vcrv war\'. The 

 trees were so thic^k that it was verv difficult to find a place 

 open enough to see the birds at rest. But I found that by 

 keeping quiet, sheltering myself somewhat in the under- 

 growth, the ibises would light fairly near me. So I erected 

 my smaller camera ujion the tripod, with the telephoto attach- 

 ment, and secured some pictures of single ibises amid the 

 thick of the mangroves. 



A little farther along, on the south side of the island, was 

 the only real opening in the trees. Here, fortunatelv for 

 me, was a dead tree, upon which several ibises at a time 

 would alight. A Louisiana Heron stayed perched on a leafv 

 branch just above, and here I was soon able to take quite 

 a series of telephoto pictures of ibises and the heron. Shortlv 

 before starting on the trip, I had purchased an excellent firm 



