THE OOLOGJST. 



151 



To return to*our collecting trip: We 

 finally found a nest with the bad on, a 

 rather unusual occnrrance in the day 

 time, in the south, where the eggs are 

 often left to the sun's care. This bird 

 dove near the boat, aud we watched 

 her with interest, in her manoeuvres to 

 elude and deceive us. She would dive 

 and emerge; sometimes coming entirely 

 above the surface, but generally show- 

 ing the head and four to eight inches of 

 the long, slim neck alone. To persons 

 inclined to credulity, I can believe that 

 it would be an easy matter to convince 

 them that the creature was a sea serp- 

 ent, or, at least a water snake. The 

 Water Turkey can swim in this posi- 

 tion for an indefinite time. Keeping 

 the body entirely below the surface, it 

 presents a striking feature of adaptabil- 

 ity to the requirements of the times. 

 I could not help but compare it to our 

 war monitors, which ouly give evidence, 

 of their presence by the upper parts, 

 while the main bulk of the craft is con- 

 cealed below water line, aud compara- 

 tively out of danger. The bird is a 

 good diver but cannot compare to the 

 hades plunger revised edition, or hell- 

 diver, old style. In a few minutes a 

 good opportunity preseutiug, an ounce 

 of No. twelves turned Mrs.* Anhinga's 

 toes up, and we secured her and moved 

 on. 



At last we came to a straggling her- 

 ony, comprising at least two species of 

 Herons. Plenty of Louisiana and Lit- 

 tle Blue Herons aud an occasional 

 White Heron Ardea egretta, now often 

 called American Egret, were seen, but 

 I caDuot attest that the last was breed- 

 ing. It was impossible to distinguish 

 the owners of the nests in a general 

 herony of this kind, and we made no 

 attempt. f The nests were mainly built 

 from six to ten feet up, and often in the 

 tops of black mangroves, but quite 

 commonly in other species of low trees 

 and shrubs. Many of the nests con- 

 tained young and these callow creatures 



could be seen stretching up their skin- 

 ny necks as we passed, making quite a 

 clatter in their demands for food. 



We had already visited several her- 

 ouies aud taken eggs of different species, 

 and had all that we desired — so we left 

 the spot aud continued our search for 

 Anhinga nests. One nest was found all 

 of thirty feet from the ground while 

 several were seen at a foot to three feet 

 up. 



George Washington failed to see the 

 high nest when it was pointed out, but 

 easily spotted the nests which were 

 built on the low bushes. He quickly 

 waded in for them, but was nearly scar- 

 ed to death when he beheld a harmless 

 water snake, which we assurred him 

 was the deadly moccasin. The way he 

 tore for the boat was a caution. The 

 water boiled, the mud flew, and we 

 laughed. The eyes on that coon stuck 

 out like lobster's eyes— and we could 

 not get him to leave the boat again on 

 any pretext whatever. 



It w r as getting too warm for comfort 

 in the quiet lagoon, and so we conclud- 

 ed to get out on the river and take a 

 sail. Finally the yacht picked her way 

 through the tortuous passage — by the 

 combined efforts of all on board. We 

 continued our sailing and trolling for 

 the rest of the day, landing a fine string 

 of fish and having an excellent time. 

 At supper time we drew up to the 

 wharf, and if our appetites did not sur- 

 prise the landlord, it was because he 

 had seen the same performance nearly 

 every day for over a month. 



Perhaps my readers will wonder why 

 I did not confine my entire time to col- 



* This specimen has gone to the Columbian 

 Exhibition at Chicago, along with a lot of other 

 specimens. in all twenty-seven species of fish- 

 eating birds from my collection. 



t I feel confident from what I have seen in 

 this connection, that there is a great deal of 

 misrepresentation by collectors who gather 

 eggs for the profit there is in it. One should 

 only buy of, and exchange with reliable dealers ; 

 otherwise one is pretty sure to get fooled, in- 

 tentionally or by ignorant yet well meaning 

 persons. 



