84 



THE MUSEUM. 



time. The main trouble in collecting 

 them is in the blowing, which is not a 

 small undertaking, and the trouble of 

 transporting so bulky a load. 



Plume birds are scarce and getting 

 scarcer. There are still plenty of 

 White and Snowy Herons but they are 

 very shy. I have seen flocks of these 

 persecuted birds rise when we came in 

 sight of them. In a three month' trip 

 I have failed to see a single Roseate 

 Spoonbill. They are becoming rare ex- 

 cepting in the wilder parts of the inter- 

 ior. 



At Jupiter I met Billy Bowlings a di- 

 rect descendant, son or grandson of the 

 historically celebrated Seminole of the 

 same name. Billy was selling Heron's 

 plumes to the dear ladies, who are ever 

 ready buytrs. Around his head were 

 wrapped one or two small shawls, a lot 

 of ingrain carpet and a variety of other 

 material. The whole turban being 

 quite seven inches high and fully twelve 

 incfies in diameter, and was held to- 

 gether by a big shining band. The 

 headgear must have weighed fully six 

 or seven pounds, and it was surmount- 

 ed by a White Heron's plume. His 

 ears had large rings in them and for 

 neck-wear he had six differently color- 

 ed gaudy handkerchiefs surmounted by 

 a cheap four-in-hand tie. Three shirts, 

 the outer one being shortest, in order 

 to show the colers below, and none of 

 them too long, constituted his sole 

 body wear. 



Billy was right in style with the lad- 

 ies, as he had the sleeves of the outer 

 gingham shirt puffed, puckered and 

 tucked up to beat all. But though so 

 elaborately dressed above, I must re- 

 cord that Billy Bowlings was clothed 

 with very scanty dressed leather leg- 

 gings which but partially concealed his 

 bow (J) legs. 



Of the Rail family I have met with 

 the Sora and American Coot only. The 

 Purple Gallinule is not common that I 

 can learn, but I expect to meet with it 

 in the interior. The habits of the Turn- 

 stone interested me and the peculiar 

 ways of this pleasing bird were subject 



for much observation. The Florida 

 Bob-white is slightly smaller and of a 

 darker color than its northern relative. 

 In fact this rule generally obtains, that 

 southern varieties of birds and mam- 

 mals are smaller than those of further 

 north. Do not understand nie as giv- 

 ing this as a fixed rule, for I am well 

 aware that a Fox Squirrel here is a 

 half larger than the northern represen- 

 tative. However the Gray Squirrel 

 and Deer are much less in size here 

 than at the north. 



Wild Turkeys are brought into the 

 little settlements by the white and Sem- 

 inole hunters every day, as is also a 

 plenty of venison and many other kinds 

 of game and a large variety of fish. 

 At one place at which I stopped we 

 caught fourteen kinds of fishes and all 

 of them were good for food. The fish- 

 ing resources of Florida are unlimited, 

 and the pleasure which an angling 

 tourist may secure from a winter in the 

 state is great. 



One of the most interesting birds in 

 the south, is that unassuming, unsuspic- 

 ious, lovable little creature, the Ground 

 Dove. The first time I ever saw it I 

 was pleased with its ways and after an 

 acquaintance of several years I am still 

 more favorably impressed by its de- 

 mure manners. It nests here abund- 

 antly laying two small white eggs of 

 the regulation Pigeon shape. The 

 Mourning Dove is also here but is rare 

 compared to the Ground Dove in quar- 

 ters that I have visited. 



There are Turkey Buzzards every- 

 where, and it is rare to look about the 

 heavens without seeing from one to a 

 score of birds. Black Vultures are seen 

 only in certain quarters and are un- 

 known in some sections. When these 

 birds take possession of a locality, the 

 Turkey Buzzards are driven away and 

 kept away. If any of our subscribers 

 can furnish authentic notes on this sub- 

 ject I should be glad to hear. 



The Marsh Harrier is here and is to 

 be seen sailing low over the Savannas. 

 The Red-tailed and Red-shouldered 

 Hawks are found, the latter, a Florida 



