i§9'] Srewster and Chapman 07i Birds of the Su-vafiec tiivcr. \'\'\ 



invariably placed in conspicuous positions near the ends of lonj^ 

 horizontal branches directly over the water. Several that we ex- 

 amined were empty. A bird was sitting^ on one of them and the 

 ovaries of specimens killetl at this time imlicated that most of 

 them would have bet^un laying^ in a week or ten tiays. As a 

 rule these birds were not shy, with a little caution one could always 

 approach within ounshot, and indeed on several occasions we 

 floated by individuals without disturl)in<;- them. One eveuinu;, as 

 the light was failing fast, three birds allowed us to pass within a 

 few yards of them as they sat perched on dead branches over the 

 water. At each movement on our part they would raise antl 

 lower the long occipital plumes with a quick nervous motion. 



The shores of the Gulf, both at the East and West Passes 

 of the river, were a great disappointment to us, for we had hoped 

 to find shore birds abundant there. Two or three miles from the 

 mouth of the river the forest growth ceases and is succeeded by a 

 vast expanse of grass-grown marshes which, broken only by occa- 

 sional groups of cabbage palms, extend to the Gulf. Here there 

 was no beach nor surf, the tall grasses growing out into the water 

 even at low tide. This is probably due to the protection aHbrded 

 by the great stretch of shoal water which thirty miles from the 

 shore reaches a depth of only nine fathoms. 



As we found it, the water was fresh at the mouth of the river, 

 and as far out in the Gulf as we went, a distance of about one 

 hundred yards ; under the influence of inflowing tides and west- 

 erly winds it may at times be salt. This fact would cause an 

 absence of both the fluviatile and marine life which serves as 

 food for shore and sea birds, and in connection with the character 

 of the coast may account for the remarkable scarcity of bird life. 

 During our three visits to the Gulf, from our headquarters farther 

 up the river, we saw or heard one Willet, one Greater Yellovvlegs, 

 two Brown Pelicans and about a dozen Florida Cormorants. Not 

 a single Gull or Tern was observed. 



The marshes, however, in part redeemed what was an other- 

 wise apparently deserted region. In them we found a few Long- 

 billed Marsh Wrens, — the one specimen obtained was C. palus- 

 tris^ — several Short-billed Marsh Wrens, and a number of 

 Swamp Sparrows. One Sea-side Finch was observed, but not 

 secured, and we are in d()ul)t, therefore, as to whether it was 

 maritimusox fcninsuhv. The most common and characteristic 

 birds, however, were tlicv Clapper Rails {Rallns scottii). 



