158 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



grasses grew, localities that were also frequented 

 by large salt-water rails. Our island, small as it 

 was, had its pair of mocking-birds. Great num- 

 bers of boat-tailed grackles and red- winged black- 

 birds as well as the crow blackbirds were present 

 in the vicinity of the shore, and might often be 

 seen feeding on the beaches and oyster bars ex- 

 posed by the receding tide. Cardinals and chee- 

 winks, bluebirds, titmice, and nuthatches thronged 

 in the pine woods, especially in the vicinity of the 

 bay-heads. Golden-crowned and water thrushes 

 were uncommon. Piney-wood and yellow-winged 

 sparrows were abundant in the undergrowth of 

 the pine forests, and once I detected Henslow's 

 bunting. 



Here, too, the trees were frequented by many 

 woodpeckers. Florida is particularly rich in these 

 birds. The red-cockaded, red-bellied, downy, 

 hairy, and red-headed, as well as pileated wood- 

 peckers and flickers were to be seen in great 

 numbers at almost any time, and the ivory-bill 

 was by no means rare. 



About the shores herons strode with much 

 deliberation and dignity. The larger sorts, were 

 solitary in habit; the smaller varieties were not 

 only gregarious, but the band was often composed 

 of the several different forms found here. When 

 feeding, these parties were frequently accompa- 

 nied by flocks of ducks, who swam in the shallow 



