THE OOLOGIST 



379 



our arrival, for they appeared startled 

 and surprised at finding "visitors," 

 but the loud hungry calling of the 

 young soon quieted their fears, and 

 apparently, we were temporarily for- 

 gotten. Many of the parent birds 

 were sitting silent and long-faced 

 among the taller branches of the cy- 

 presses lining the shore, one particu- 

 larly solemn individual and outward- 

 ly peaceable, perched his or her self 

 down beside a disagreeable and ag- 

 gressive Mrs. Snakebird, who at 

 once resented the liberty taken by 

 this tall, bald-headed creature whose 

 only and sole aim in life seems to be 

 that of remaining dignified, and peace- 

 ful, and began by striking viciously 

 with her sharp needle-shaped bill di- 

 recently at the Ibis's naked cranium by 

 way of chastisement for rude conduct. 

 Every time she would act in a men- 

 acing manner "Baldy" would edge 

 nearer the extremity of the limb, and 

 would be followed up each time until 

 at length, the end of the project was 

 reached, and rather than quarrel 

 with a lady in sight of fellowmen, 

 "Baldy" arose awkwardly as though 

 embarrassed, and between alternate 

 flapping of wings and soaring, flew to 

 a more convenient and agreeable at- 

 mosphere. No, not for a moment must 

 we be led to believe that "Baldy" is 

 a coward, he simply respected Mrs. 

 Snakebird's diminutive size compared 

 with that of his own, and would not 

 stoop so low as to combat with her, be- 

 sides this he is sympathetic and has 

 some regards for the feelings of oth- 

 ers; the birdman had just taken a set 

 of eggs that she, indeed, was very 

 proud of, and wasn't this quite enough 

 to place her in a vicious mood. "Baldy" 

 has had many fierce and dangerous en- 

 counters with large moccasins and 

 other venomous reptiles, coming out 

 of the fight victorious. 



By actual count there were between 



ninety-five and a hundred Ibis nests, 

 and I estimated the young at three 

 hundred and fifty; only two nests were 

 found containing eggs — one with three 

 eggs with young breaking shell, and 

 a set of two infertile specimens. The 

 bird was found sitting on this nest 

 brooding silently and patiently, doubt- 

 less wondering how much longer she 

 was to be detained. The young rang- 

 ed in age from seven weeks to a young 

 breaking through the shell, but by far 

 the majority were about three weeks 

 old. All trees utilized for nesting 

 purposes were growing out in the lake 

 a distance from shore in order that 

 they might nest in safety, and be pro- 

 tected from all animals. Nests rang- 

 ed in height above the surface of the 

 water six to fifty feet, and anywhere 

 from two to ten nests in a single tree. 

 I don't recollect seeing any one nest 

 of this species, but always accompan- 

 ied by one or more. 



In several instances in this colony 

 I found Cormorants, Snakebirds and 

 Ibis nesting in the same tree but 

 there was only a disturbance apparent, 

 and perfect harmony and peace is 

 never in evidence when such a com- 

 bination is aggregated. Crows seem- 

 ed to have gotten in their thievish 

 work, as many nests contained only 

 two young, and others just one each, 

 while still there were some that held 

 four, but three was mostly observed. 



The nests were rude and bulky, but 

 substantial structures placed flatly on 

 a forked limb, in a crotch of a tree, 

 or among the bushy branches, some so 

 close as to be touching each other. 

 Course twigs and vines of several va- 

 rieties were used in the construction, 

 and ten inches thick, and two feet in 

 diameter in some while others were 

 not quite so bulky. 



Not more than a dozen Cormorants 

 were breeding, and all had hatched 

 but three nests: these I secured, three 



