204 Mr. G. C. Taylor on the Birds observed 



The ' Darlington ' remains all night at Pilatka, and I stay 

 on board. The night is very hot and close^ and mosquitoes 

 are very troublesome. We are also much inconvenienced by 

 what they call here "blind mosquitoes," which appear to be 

 flying ants. They come in clouds, sometimes in such quanti- 

 ties as to put out a fire. They are attracted by a liglit, and the 

 steamer is full of them. They do not bite, but from their num- 

 bers are very annoying. 



Next morning the ' Darlington ' proceeded on her voyage. I 

 landed at my old quarters at Orange-Mills, where 1 remained for 

 ten days. For several days following there was a heavy thunder- 

 storm every afternoon, which saturated the ground, and made 

 the bushes so wet as to restrict my bird-collecting considerably. 



One day I went with a party to fish in "Deep Creek," a 

 tributary of the St. John's. It is narrow, clothed with forest 

 to the water's edge, and not much frequented. As we did not 

 arrive until tea o'clock, the sun was so hot as to make walk- 

 ing rather unpleasant work, I spent some time in a dense 

 swamp full of large cypress-trees, apparently a very favourable 

 locality for Ivoiy-billed and Pileated Woodpeckers ; but I saw 

 nothing but some Grey Squii'rels, which are common enough 

 everywhere. On the trees overhanging the stream were a few 

 Anhingas. I saw a few Alligators, but they are shy hereabouts, 

 being constantly persecuted. On leaving the swamp I observed a 

 pair of Swallow-tailed Kites soaring aloft, but the chance of their 

 coming within shot was small indeed ; so, being somewhat tired, 

 I took to the boat to see if the fishing would bring more luck, 

 always keeping my gun ready for a shot. While thus engaged, 

 1 saw the Swallow-tailed Kites coming nearer, and gliding just 

 clear of the tops of the trees, where, no doubt, they find a good 

 supply of lizards, tree-frogs, and insects. At last one came 

 within shot, and I killed it. On opening it the next day, I found 

 the crop full of half-digested lizards and small snakes. When- 

 ever I have seen these birds, they have always been in pairs, 

 gliding over the tree-tops, near to the water. I have no doubt 

 that they breed in this part of Florida. A resident with a 

 moderate amount of energy would have no great difticulty in 

 finding their nests; but the arduous task would be to get at 



