BIRDS FROM SOUTH FLORIDA. 427 



among which was not a single male bird. I killed a black parakeet, 

 which is the third specimen seen at the Tortugas. It has also been 

 seen at Key West during the last fifteen years. 



Having shot a Florida wild pigeon (white headed) at the same place, 

 and learning that they were numerous on the keys to the eastward, I felt 

 a great desire to learn something more about them. Upon my return 

 to this island, Captain William H. Bethel, in charge of this key, in- 

 formed me that they breed on the neighboring keys, and that he, in 

 company with another man, had killed nearly two hundred in a day 

 on an island not larger than an acre in area. July 23 we visited two 

 small keys six miles to northwest from here, one of which is inunda- 

 ted at high water, and the other nearly so. Upon going on shore, 

 Captain Bethel called the pigeons, (kroo-ko-koo, laying the accent upon 

 the last syllable,) to which they answered in the same notes, some 

 flying towards us. We killed eighteen. The eggs were nearly 

 hatched, and would not blow, except two or three which I send in a 

 tin canister. Two will also be found in alcohol. Their nests are 

 built of dried sticks in the mangroves between high and low water 

 mark on the east side, to get the benefit of the sea-breezes, and be- 

 cause the mosquitoes are less numerous there. One nest was found 

 near the middle of the key. They lay two white eggs, rounded on each 

 end. The craws of the males were full of a kind of red oval berry, 

 which grows on the larger and dry islands, whilst those of the females 

 were empty. The birds were very shy, so that it was difficult to ap- 

 proach near enough to shoot them. 



A number of Indian pullets were killed here lately, of which I suc- 

 ceeded in securing two. One was shot by a soldier from a cocoanut 

 tree, and the other by myself. The last one had hid himself upon the 

 ground among some bushes, and flew short distances when he was 

 started, emitting at the same time a single low note. His gizzard 

 contained a fine, dark green, and dry vegetable matter. Nothing is 

 known of these birds. They are frequently met with at sea, and will 

 light on board of vessels to rest themselves, and are found here at every 

 season of the year. 



The flamingo is known to but a very few inhabitants of this State, 

 because it is confined to the immediate neighborhood of the most south- 

 ern portion of the peninsula, Cape Sable, and the keys in its vicinity. 

 It was seen by the first settlers at Indian river, but abandoned these 

 regions immediately, and never returned thither after having been 

 fired upon. It goes northward as far as Cape Komano, on the west 

 coast of Florida. It is seen in these localities at every season of the 

 year, but it is not known where it breeds. It is supposed' to build its 

 nests in the fresh-water lakes near Cape Sable, and is said to set on its 

 eggs whilst standing upon its feet; the great length of its legs not 

 permitting it to rise with the same facilities as oflier aquatic birds. 



I had never seen any of these birds, and having been told they may be 

 caught during the latter part of June and beginning of July, when 

 moulting, and that wreckers had obtained a large number of them, I felt 

 a great anxiety to go on an expedition to capture them ; but how was this 

 to be accomplished? Was it to be left to destiny? I had no boat at my 

 command, nor could any be hired, as everybody was afraid to visit the 



