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RANDOM NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY. 



The Roseate Spoonbill in Florida Rookeries. 



Part IL 



Breakfast was quickl}' disposed of and 

 the camp put in order, and we started for 

 the rookery in high spirits and found the 

 boat without difficult}'. 



The rooker^^ was a C3'press swamp, the 

 extent of which we did not determine, but 

 at its southwest corner was a small pond, 

 in and about which grew numerous small 

 trees and large bushes, while on the outside 

 edge was a dense mass of shi'ubbery, shut- 

 ting off the view from the outside. The 

 few herons flying in and out, or perched 

 upon the tree-tops, would hardly raise a sus- 

 picion as to the numbers concealed behind 

 the outside hedge. 



We pushed our boat beneath the bushes, 

 and upon emerging on the other side, there 

 was a loud sound of wings as the herons 

 left their nests, but our eyes centered upon 

 one object, and that a fuU-plumaged Roseate 

 Spoonbill,* standing beside its nest. 



Kind reader, can you imagine a greater 

 surprise than this? I don't believe the bird 

 exists that could stir me to-da}- as that Spoon- 

 bill did then. Roseate Sjyoonbill, a name 

 richl}' deserved. I have no wish to cut it 

 to Rosy. It lies in m}^ memory' so dear, I 

 do not think of any bird more beautiful 

 than this one is in life. Its disproportion- 

 ate and, to many, ungainly bill, and naked 

 head, are beautifully colored and blended 

 with its exquisite plumage ; and its motions 

 — grace itself. 



But there was the bird, about ten 3-ards 

 distant, holding us spell-bound. The Fish 

 Crows were, as usual, not slow in pillaging 

 the nests of the departed herons, and some 

 even tried to take the Spoonbill's treasures ; 

 but the noble bird pushed at them with its 

 bill whenever they made the attempt. In 

 a moment the desire to possess caused the 

 death of the brave parent, and the eggs, 

 three in number, were taken from the nest. 



*The fully adult bird is of a rich pink, with wing- 

 patches of the richest crimson floss, beg-inning- at the 

 bend of the wing- and extending back six inches by 

 two inches wide. The upper and lower tail coverts, a 

 tas-el in front of the breast, and a trace on the back of 

 the neck joinhig the head, are also of this rich silky 

 red. The tail is brownish orange above and pink be- 

 neath. The neck is white, fading insensibly into the 

 pink on breast and back. There is a buff spot on breast 

 at bend of each wing. The eye is carmine, and legs 

 crimson. The naked head is of a beautiful mottled 

 greenish to match the bill, only more intense. The 

 skin at base of skull to the line of the feathers is black 



This first nest was situated about eight or 

 ten feet high, placed in an awkward-shaped 

 stunted tree. 



The sight was now a wonderful one, the 

 trees at a safe distance being clothed with the 

 forms of the various inmates of the breed- 

 ing-place. The American Egrets, being the 

 shyest, were in the background, with a 

 sprinkling of Snowy and Louisiana Herons 

 among them, though the majority of these 

 species and the few little Blue Herons did 

 not retire so far. Mingled among them 

 here and there stood a few Spoonbills, usu- 

 ally three or four in a place. Snake Birds 

 were also sparingly distributed among the 

 rest, but the majority flocked together on one 

 large tree. But a more remarkable sight 

 was overhead ; hundreds of birds at various 

 heights, from within an easy gunshot to an 

 almost remote height, were sailing about or 

 flying quickly- back and forth, all watching 

 the intruders and making various notes, 

 some sharp, and others harsh and gutteral. 

 The cuk-cuk, cuk-cuk, cuk-cuk of the 

 young American Egrets was continually to 

 be heard. The only sound we heard the 

 Spoonbill make, though entirely different, 

 reminded us of a disconsolate hen when she 

 goes cur-r-k cuk-cuk-cuk. 



The second Spoonbill shot was taken by 

 an alligator and carried under, but the 

 water was not deep, and a short time after 

 the bird was espied b}' my companion, who 

 struck the 'gator on the head with his pole. 

 It relinquished its hold, and the bird rose to 

 the surface and was recovered, minus only 

 a few feathers. 



These huge reptiles were plentiful in the 

 open water, and one day we nearly walked 

 upon one lying beside our boat just outside 

 of the rookery. We gave him three charges 

 of coarse shot in the eye and behind his 

 fore leg, and left him for dead, but on our 

 return he was gone. The Spoonbills now 

 received our first attention, and we secured 

 one or both birds with each nest. It being 

 Saturday, we killed only five birds, and took 

 what eggs we could carry to fill up, of the ■ 

 Louisiana and Snowy Herons and American 

 Egrets. 



(Tit lie continued.) 



A Remarkable Shot. — Mr. Lord informs 

 us that a sportsman shot a Barred Owl, and 

 seeing something else drop also, he found 

 that to be a Saw Whet Owl. 



