156 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



ton is the goldfinch, or yellowbird. Nests late 

 in August are the rule, and I have found fresh 

 eggs during the first week in September and 

 young ones just ready to leave the nest on the 

 20th of that month. So that while doubtless 

 the great wave of reproduction in bird life, which 

 we call the breeding season, does occur in May 

 and June, more than half the year is occupied by 

 various species of birds in breeding near New 

 York. Really but four months are without nest- 

 ing birds. The farther north one goes the shorter 

 is the breeding time, and the reason is evident. 

 As the equator is approached the reverse is true. 

 It is only necessary to stay a short time in Florida 

 to become aware that there is no definite season 

 associated with the time of reproduction. After 

 some twelve different winters and a consecutive 

 period of eighteen months spent in the state, I 

 feel warranted in saying that it is possible to find 

 birds nesting during every month of the year. 



The fish crow was a common bird observed 

 in large flocks all about the region at the mouth 

 of the Withlacoochee River. The fruit of the cab- 

 bage palmetto attracted them in enormous num- 

 bers, and great bands of these miniatures of the 

 crow of the North, a hundred and even more 

 together, made a very gay scene as they de- 

 scended on the palms and with much vociferation 

 and crow gabble proceeded to enjoy themselves. 



