1 6 Daniel, Summer Birds of the Great Dismal Swamp. Vj^n 



They are not, however, great and average only a few feet. The 

 trees are principally cypress (7rt!.r6'(^//«OT), black gum, beech and 

 juniper, and there is a luxuriant growth of ferns and aquatic plants. 

 Cane grows in profusion. The swamp comes within the Austro- 

 riparian sub-province and contains several tropical genera of the 

 smaller mammals and many semi-tropical plants. As regards 

 birds, it is not especially rich with respect to species, although there 

 is an abundance of individuals of certain forms. 



Lake Drummond, in the northeastern part, is the only body of 

 water of any size within the limits of the swamp. It is a beautiful 

 sheet of water, of an oval contour, six miles long and three miles 

 wide. During our visit, the country immediately adjacent to the 

 lake was fairly well worked over, most of our collecting being done 

 along the margins of the lake and its several small inlets. 



Owing to the swampy conditions, much of the country is inac- 

 cessible, and travel on foot is possible only in the more elevated 

 parts. Most of our travel was effected by means of small boats, — 

 the characteristic ' dugout ' of the region. In some parts, however, 

 there are roads constructed of logs by the lumbermen, and these 

 afford access to the country several miles back from the lake. 



I append, with short annotations, a list of the birds observed 

 during our visit. 



1. Phalacrocorax dilophus. Double-crested Cormorant. — Acci- 

 dental. A single individual taken on the lake near the southeastern shore. 



2. Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. — Fairly abundant on the 

 lake shore. Several noticed on the inlets. One taken on "Jericho Ditch," 

 near Suffolk. 



3. Ardea virescens. Green Heron. — Common. ]\Iany seen on the 

 inlets. 



4. Philohela minor. American Woodcock. — Several noticed at twi- 

 light feeding near camp at junction of ' Washington' and' Jericho 'districts. 



5. Cathartes aura. Turkey Vulture. — Not very common. A few 

 noticed. 



6. Buteo lineatus. Red-shouldered Hawk. — Qiiite abundant. A 

 number obser\ed in the timber near the southeastern shore of the lake. 



7. Syrnium nebulosum. Barred Owl. — Fairly abundant. Its hoot- 

 ing often heard at night. Frequents timber along the lake shore. 



S. Bubo virginianus. Great Horned Owl. — Not very common. 

 Several heart! hooting at night. 

 9. Coccyzus americanus. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. — A few seen. 



