290 Bird - Lore 



Not so noticeable, but always present, were the Turkey Vultures. The 

 moment we camped, they lit in the nearest trees, to await our dinner scraps. 

 In the Glades they continually followed the canoes. They have learned that 

 a moving canoe usually means a dead alligator, sooner or later. 



The morning after I left Myers, I heard a Wild Turkey gobble in the dis- 

 tance at sunrise, and Cypress promised me that he would soon show me 

 "Fi-te ojus" — (Turkey, plenty). And he certainly kept his word. Early 

 in the morning, after sunrise, or just before dark, the Turkeys, which spend 

 the day concealed in the dark Cypress Heads, or swamps, come out to feed in 

 the wet prairies, close at hand. I believe that I saw, altogether, in the Pine Bar- 

 rens and the Big Cypress, at least 120 Wild Turkeys! That means at least 

 four flocks of, say, thirty each, and, as I saw quite a number of small flocks 

 and individuals, 120 is too small an estimate. They are a much smaller bird 

 than I supposed, and, unfortunately, they are very palatable. Every wayside 

 camping ground is littered with their bones. Why they are still abundant 

 is a miracle. The young birds, being very tame, suffer the most. I often got 

 within fifteen or twenty feet of them, but the old birds are more wary. I 

 inquired about Paroquets, but neither Indians nor whites even knew what 

 they were. Ivory-billed Woodpeckers were said to have been extinct in that 

 locality for the past ten years. The Snowy Egret has also passed away within 

 that period, and we saw possibly a dozen of the 'Long- whites,' or American 

 Egret. Sandhill Cranes were less uncommon than I had expected; I saw them 

 on at least two occasions. The first day out from Myers, we saw a flock of 

 eight. Poor birds, they also are good eating. We saw a few Florida Blue 

 Herons and some Water Turkeys. Every day we ran across the curious little 

 Florida Quail. One day Brown stumbled on a brood of young. 



Crows were uncommon. In fact, we saw more in the Everglades than in 

 the uplands. They were mostly Fish Crows. Once in the Big Cypress, we 

 saw fewer birds; and those we did see were mainly the same species that 

 inhabited the Pine Barrens. In the Everglades, however, there were very few 

 birds, indeed; they were nearly as scarce as alligators. Think of it! Alligators 

 are now so rare, owing to the relentless persecution of th^ hide-hunters, that 

 we saw only one in the Glades, and had to make a special trip to see him! 



The Everglades are remarkable for two things : First, the absolute purity 

 of the water there, which, contrary to the popular idea, is as clear as crystal, 

 and perfectly drinkable at any place; and, second, for the absence of animal 

 life. 



In the water, to be sure, there are some fish, alligators, snakes, and turtles 

 and frogs, but above the surface one sees scarcely anything. A few Vultures, 

 a Fish Crow or so, a Duck, and possibly a Limpkin, is a very good day's 

 record for birds in August. There is nothing to attract them. To be sure, 

 there are myriads of little fish, but so there are in the Big Cypress where 

 there is also admirable cover. 



