490 Wright axd Harper, The Birds of Okefinokee Swamp. [bcu 



other times in the heronries. On June 18 a nest was found about five feet 

 above the water in a buttonbush (Ccphalanthus occidentalis) . It con- 

 sisted of a platform of sticks, larger and more compact than the surrounding 

 nests of the Little Blue Heron. On the edge of this dung-covered nest 

 four young were resting. The old bird perched in a pine tree at a distance, 

 and did not approach while we were present. 



The natives say that this species sometimes gorges itself to such an extent 

 that it becomes unable to fly, and can make its escape only by the water. 

 At the approach of our boat in the Minne Lake Run, a Water-Turkey 

 plunged head foremost from its perch and disappeared, though indicating 

 its swift course beneath the surface by the shaking bonnet stems. A bird 

 alternately flapping and sailing across a bit of bonnet-strewn prairie, 

 against a background of moss-hung cypresses, presents a striking and 

 beautiful spectacle. 



A Water-Turkey's bill is no mean weapon, as attested by the blind eye 

 of one of the native boys, who received a thrust from a tame bird. 



2. Aix sponsa. Wood Duck; 'Squealer'; 'Summer Duck'. — The 

 Wood Duck is still found in considerable numbers on the lakes, streams, 

 and flooded prairies of Okefinokee. It is apparently the sole summer resi- 

 dent of its tribe in the swamp, for the Florida Duck is unknown there. 

 The Big Water and Honey Island Prairie are especially favored haunts. 

 Several broods of young were observed in late May and early June. At 

 such times they are often found in flocks as large as eight to sixteen. They 

 eluded our pursuit by swiftly scurrying along the bushy borders of cypress 

 ' heads.' The natives not infrequently capture the tender, half-grown 

 young with dogs, and eat them with considerable relish. We were shown 

 a hole in a dead pine on Billy's Island where both the Wood Duck and the 

 Pileated Woodpecker had nested at different times. After the nesting is 

 over and the young can fly, the Wood Ducks are said to betake themselves 

 in considerable numbers to particular spots in the prairies, such as the 

 southern part of Floyd's Island Prairie, where they associate with the 

 Hooded Mergansers (' Frog Ducks '), but remain apart from the other 

 Ducks of the fall and winter. The shrill little whistle of the male is very 

 distinct from the louder and comparatively hoarse quack of the female. 



3. Guara alba. White Ibis; 'Curlew'; 'White Curlew.' — The 

 White Ibis is reported as quite common in the swamp, but our own records 

 are not numerous. Eight or nine birds were seen flying over the northern 

 part of the swamp on May 8. On June 19 we observed three ' Curlews ' 

 flying high over Billy's Lake. A week later a flock of eight was flushed 

 from a small pond on the outskirts of the swamp. During the last week 

 of the party's stay, July 7-13, they became more common in the swamp 

 itself. Thej- breed in colonies with Egrets and other Herons. In 1910 

 they nested with Egrets on Minne's Lake. The following summer they 

 resorted to the same place, but were fewer in number. For years they have 

 roosted in cypress ' heads ' on Floyd's Island Prairie, to and from which 

 they were seen going morning and evening. These flocks are said to consist 



