182 Wright and Earper, Tht Birds qfOkqfinokee Swamp. \ol\) 



roads, sometimes waist-deep, to Billy's [sland, where camp head- 

 quarters were established. The route from Fargo to the camp, by 

 way of Mixon's Ferry, the Pocket, Jones Island, and Gallberrj 

 [sland, was frequently traversed. Billy's Island, Billy's Lake, 

 ami Mixon's Hammock were quite thoroughly explored. Honey 

 Island. Honey Islam! Prairie, Floyd's Island Prairie, and Floyd's 

 Island were visited for periods covering from one to three days. 

 A special trip was made to a heronry between Fargo and Mixon's 

 Ferry. Two attempts were made to reach the Minne Lake Is- 

 lands, the first from Minne's Lake due west, and the second 

 from Filly's Fake due north. The entire party Mas successful in 

 making the second trip. On July 13 we left the swamp, coming 

 out by way of Billy's Fake, l.oi; River, and Suwannee River to 

 Mixon's Ferry —a course frequently explored during our sojourn 

 in the swamp. 



A few words should be said here concerning the Fee family of 

 Billy's Island, to whom we are indebted for much valuable informa- 

 tion concerning the Okefinokee and its natural history. Through- 

 out our stay in the swamp we were in daily contact with these 

 people, and employed four of the men as guides. The family 

 settled here about thirty years ago, and have remained the only 

 permanent inhabitants of the swamp's remote interior. | Two other 

 families, long known as inhabitants of the swamp, are the Mixons 

 on the western, ami theChessers on the eastern borders.) During 

 their long residence in the heart of the swamp the Fees have gained 

 an unusually intimate acquaintance with the various forms o{ its 

 plant and animal life. They not only have names for practically 

 all the birds except some o( the smaller and less distinctive Pas- 

 seres, hut could also give interesting and very trustworthy accounts 

 o( their habits. They are likewise familiar with most of the other 

 vertebrates. Their knowledge of the plants of the swamp is 

 scarcely less full; and there were few species that they could not 

 name for us. While most of their local names are either exactly or 

 recognizably similar to those in general use in the South, others 

 appear to he altogether unique; and we consider them all o\' such 

 interest as to he worthy oi inclusion in the annotated list o( species. 



