Birds in a Florida Jungle 

 Phyllis Summers 

 Ames, Iowa 



With field glasses and bird book I started for the so called 

 "Florida Jungle," which in wild life does not much resemble 

 Kipling's jungle but is just a dense woods with an abundance of 

 undergrowth. I have never seen a wild cat nor even a rattle 

 snake in these woods, but I do not doubt the latter are there 

 and I have even heard of wild cats in Florida. But this jungle 

 is a place where lichen and moss spring up in a night and birds 

 are to be found in their glory. 



It was bird hunting that I went on this particular morning. 

 There had been a rumor of a "new bird" about the place — some 

 reports saying that it was strikingly marked with orange — others 

 that the bright color was red. I had had a tantalizing glimpse 

 of the bird myself and was determined to have another view, if 

 possible. 



I found a small cleared place and sat down to wait. The first 

 sign of animal life I saw was my study for the morning. The 

 "new bird" came creeping out from under the palmettoes, looked 

 around and, unconcerned by its visitor, began scratching for worms. 

 Almost immediately it was followed by another. They did not 

 seem to notice me until I turned to the "Field Key" in my bird 

 book, and then they both disappeared under the brush but con- 

 tinued to give their call as they rustled the dead leaves about in 

 their search for breakfast. I had gotten a splendid view of the 

 birds but because of my exaltation over the beauty of them as a 

 whole, I had failed to get any specific details. However with the 

 idea of a black head and breast with red sides I began to study 

 my book in hopes of finding a name for our new friend. I had 

 hardly made a beginning when I heard a slight x-ustle among 

 the branches and looking up I saw a bright yellow bird flitting 

 about the palmettoes. It flew over and lighted on an upright 

 stick which was not more than two feet from me. It was a small 

 bird of the most vivid yellow and across its eye was a streak of 

 jet black. It tipped its head and looked at me as though to say 

 "I'm not afraid of you," and then darted away as quicklv as it 

 had come. But another was playing nearby and a cardinal 

 was scolding in a neighboring bush and yes, there came one of 



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