160 FISH CROW. 



around and ran along the smooth beach just outside the breakers. It soon became appar- 

 ent why we took this way for we could see a long line of white-capped waves breaking 

 over a shoal that lay to the eastward. So we ran on between the land and reef until the 

 great, luminous eye of the light-house opened upon us from behind the palmetto trees that 

 stood on North Island, then we once more turned landward, this time sailing directly into 

 the mouth of the river and anchored under the lee of a. point. It was well for us that we 

 did for in an hour the wind was blowing such a gale that, sheltered as we were, our yacht 

 dragged her anchor and we were obliged to put over a second. 



As we lay there two days I had a fine opportunity of collecting the birds on the neigh- 

 boring islands. I never remember seeing a more lovely spot than North Island. It con- 

 sisted of small hillocks with ponds interspersed at intervals, while the whole was covered 

 with a thick growth of trees; the evergreen live oak, stately magnolias, glossy-leaved bays, 

 beautiful palmettoes, and large holleys grew in profusion. They were covered with vines 

 and draped with long streamers of Spanish moss, and the whole was surrounded by a ridge 

 of white sand which formed a very appropriate setting for the most perfect gem of an island 

 that I ever saw. 



The wind was blowing hard and cold from the North-east but, as the trees formed a 

 perfect shelter, hundreds of birds were congregated there and by far the most numerous 

 were the Fish Crows; in fact they greatly outnumbered all the other species put together. 

 They were evidently migrating for they came down the coast in an almost unbroken 

 stream and continued to fly all day. I think I saw more pass the island than I ever saw 

 before. It did not seem possible that there could have been so many of these Crows in 

 existence for they could be counted by tens of thousands. I have always found that they 

 accumulate in large flocks in winter and have noted immense numbers on the prairies of 

 Southern Florida, but nothing that I had previously seen ever gave me the impression 

 which I that day received regarding the abundance of these birds, and I was thoroughly 

 satisfied that the Fish Crows were not in any danger of being exterminated, at least in the 

 section of country which they inhabit north of South Carolina. 



The Fish Crows are essentially maritime birds and, as will be infered by the above 

 remarks, gregariously inclined for the greater portion of the year. They spend their time 

 about shores, not only of the sea but of large bodies of water, subsisting largely upon 

 what they can pick up on the margin. They have, however, a singular habit of hovering 

 over the surface in order to catch any floating object, and I have seen several thus en- 

 gaged at one time when they so nearly resembled Gulls that, had it not been for the flight 

 and note, they might have been taken for a black species of this latter named family. 

 They do not, however, depend wholly upon the water to supply them with food, for they 

 are very fond of the fruit of the palmetto and I have also found them feeding on the spicy 

 berries of the bay. 



The Fish Crows are not always, however, content with such diet but, unfortunately 

 for the Herons, Cormorants, Terns, and other birds which breed in rookeries, are extremely 

 fond of eggs and will always eat them whenever a favorable opportunity offers but, as 

 they regard the parents birds, especially the sharp-beaked Herons, with the utmost re- 



