5g SNAKE BiBD 



nianicnti'us feathers ol' licail nnd neck, w liite markings, and eliminations of tail fcatlu-rs. Ncstlmijs. Are cvcrcd witli a 

 yellowisli dciwn. 



OBSERVATIUNS, 

 Easily rcf(ji;ui»'d l)y tiic puculiar form and L-olur. Distributed, in sunnner, iroiu tile Oarolmas, southward. AViulcrs 

 in Florida. 



ULMENSIONS. 

 Avera-o measurciueuts of specimens IVom Fl.irida. Length, 34-50; -treteh, 4<l-a.5; win,^', i2 T."), tail, Id OS; hill, 2 i)5; 

 tai-sus, r.4S, i^ongostspeeiiiicn, 3.3-75; greatest extent of wins;, 46 O;); longc-:t wing, 13 75; tail, 10 75, hill, 3 10; tarsus, 1-70. 

 Shortest speeiinen, 33-35, smallest extent of wing, 4-2-00; shortest wing, 11-75; tail, 9-40; bill, -Zi^J: tarsus, 1-25. 



DESCBIPTIDN OF NESTS AND E(.i(.;S. 

 A'ts/.s, i)l-aeed in trees, composed of stiek-. Eij^s, throe to tive in numlier, oval in fonn, and bluish-white iii color, cov- 

 ered with a white calcareous ih-posit. Dimensions from l-l;)x-2-15 to l-<35 x2-2.j. 



HABITS. 



The Suiike Birds, /Vuhingiis, or Water Turkeys, as they are termed in various locali- 

 ties, arc among the most singuhir and interesting birds found in Floridti, for they possess 

 habits which characterize several species, besides many which are petulitir to themselves. 

 They perch on trees like Cormorants but spread their wings in the sun when sitting, like 

 Vultures, and if fired at with a rifle, when at a distance, will not move. A near shot, how- 

 ever, whether it hits or not, always sends them tumbling end over end into the water, when 

 they will instantly disappear, diving and remaining under the surface as readily as Grebes, 

 which binls they also resemble in possessing the power of moving with the body submerged 

 and the head, and often the entire neck, above the surface. When thus engaged, the great- 

 ly elongated neck is twisted about in a manner which strongly reminds one of the writh- 

 ing of a serpent; hence the name of Sntike Bird which is most often applied to them. Aft- 

 er eating, the Anhingas soar on motionless wings, high in air, like Pelicans, and often 

 gather in flocks at such times, but when sitting, it is rare to find more than three or four 

 together and they usually associate in pairs. During the breeding season, however, they 

 congregate in rookeries, often in company with other birds, and I have found them nesting 

 with the White ami Night Herons. The domiciles are placed in trees, are rather bulky, 

 being about eighteen inches in diameter, deeply hollowed, ttnd occasionally lined with the 

 downy catkins of the willow. The eggs, which are usually four but occtisionally five in 

 number, are deposited about the middle of March. When their homes are api)roached, the 

 Snake Birds silently leave them but appear quite solicitous for the safety of their eggs, as 

 they will circle about, uttering aloud, grunting sound, their only note, often coming with- 

 in gun shot, but like till members of the present order, are very difficult to kill. 



Chief Tiger brought me a young Anhinga, about half grown, from (he Everglades, 

 about the middle of April. It po.ssessed much more intellige:ice than one would suppose, 

 for it became very ttime, fed retidily, was not inclined to wander, and f )und its w;ty every 

 niglit to its perch in the corner of a room, not tittempting to roost outs'uhj. This bird was 

 very gentle in disposition; so much so, that it would never attempt to defend itself auainst 

 ' the attacks of a White Heron which I kept at the same time, and IVom whii-h ihe Anhinga 

 at last received an injury which proved iattil. 



FAMILY V. TACHYPETID^. THE FRIGATE BlUDS. 



Bill, longer Ihan head ividc, strong, and hooked at tip. Gularsac, s?nall. Stcr/mm, 

 much wider than long. Coracoids, considerably longer than sternum. Keel, n)t projected 

 forward. 



