GREAT BLUE HERON AND WATER TURKEY 



115 



** bonnets," as yellow pond-lilies are invariably called in 

 Florida, that the water was not visible, and it was necessary 

 to mow a path, with a machete, to the islets on which the 

 Water Turkeys and Herons proved to be nesting. These 

 islets, although only a few yards square, usually held at 

 least one cabbage palm, with an ash or willow and low 

 bushes ; their presence added largely to the beauty of a 



The Home of Heron and Water Turkey 



Note the blind under the palmetto at the left; also the canoe floating 

 among the " bonnets " 



scene which, with its "moss" draped cypresses, and luxuri- 

 ant growth of bonnets and palms, must have made a fine 

 setting for the Egrets, Spoonbills and Paroquets that were 

 doubtless abundant here when the troopers camped in the 

 neighboring pines. 



The i^lace itself, however, had lost none of its singular 

 picturesqueness and animal life was still abundant enough 



