TttB OOLOOtgT 



The Lure of the WUd, and the Bachelor 

 Nest of the Bald Eagle. 



On January 23, 1912, my partner and 

 myself left Salem, N. J., for a trip in 

 the Southland on business and pleas- 

 ure, my pleasure was to be on the 

 lookout amongst the feathered tribe, 

 and also to meet our brother oolo- 

 gists in the places we touched. Pro- 

 curing our passage on the Steamer 

 Lexington of the Merchant and Min- 

 er's Transportation Co. we left Phila- 

 delphia, Pa., bound for Savannah, Ga. 



On the morning of the 24th, when we 

 awoke we had cleared the copes and 

 out to sea. The ocean was as placid 

 as the waters of the lake. During the 

 journey noted Herring gulls flying and 

 feeding in the wake of the ship and 

 probably a Leach's petrel. 



On the 25th, toward evening three 

 Myrtle Warblers struggled to the ship 

 apparently exhausted, we being from 

 fifteen to twenty-five miles from land 

 opposite Charleston, S. C. I followed 

 one about the boat from time to time. 

 Every once in awhile they would all 

 leave the ship, apparently bent on go- 

 ing for good, but before out of sight 

 they would come flitting back glad to 

 get a resting place, and I thought then 

 that was the fate of many of our land 

 birds that get lost at sea and exhaust- 

 ed, especially if a storm arises and 

 the waters and sky look all the same. 

 Our enemies that keep knocking us for 

 taking a few paltry sets, do not say 

 a word in protest to the time when 

 providence destroys whole colonies in 

 a few hours. 



On the 26th we entered Savannah 

 river, said to be thirty-five miles in 

 length to Savannah, but only eighteen 

 as the crow flies. Two Great Blue 

 Herons were feeding in the shallow 

 water along the bank and several Cor- 

 morants were seen swimming and fly- 

 ing about. While standing on the star- 

 board of our vessel she blew a salute 



looking to port. On the Veranda of d, 

 cottage stood a woman waving a sa- 

 lute. Whereby hangs a story. Several 

 years ago her sweetheart went to sea 

 and never returned, she mourned his 

 loss so much that she lives alone in 

 the little cottage by the river bank 

 and waves the red lantern by night 

 and the banner by day to all passing 

 crafts. 



On the 27th, in Savannah about the 

 docks, Ringbills and immature Laugh- 

 ing gulls were cavorting, and our 

 friend, Mr. Troup D. Perry, whom I 

 met, tells me a Bonaparte was secur- 

 ed there this winter. 



On the 28th, with Mr. Perry to the 

 woods of Georgia; it was a treat to 

 me. The long needle Pine and Cy- 

 press were the most plentiful trees, 

 festooned with the Spanish Moss 

 which hangs on the trees in more or 

 less profusion as far north as Nor- 

 folk, Va. Many of the birds we noted 

 were ones I was acquainted with and 

 just enjoying a milder climate than 

 their summer home in the north. 

 English names of A. O. IT. no medieval 

 names — Loggerhead Shrike, Bluebird, 

 Phoebe, Red Tailed Hawk, Horned 

 Owl, Bob White, Pine Warbler, Tur- 

 key and Black Vultures, Fish Crows, 

 Robins, Mockingbirds, Brown Thrash- 

 ers, Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Flick- 

 ers, three Bachman's Sparrows, sev- 

 eral each of White Eyed Towhees, 

 Myrtle Warblers, Fox Sparrows, Her- 

 mit Thrashers, and a large flock of 

 Meadowlarks. Heard the Florida Jay, 

 English Sparrow, and Carolina Wren. 



January 3d. Went with Professor 

 Walter Ho^le, near the coast in quest 

 of Bald Eagle nests and procured a 

 Louisiana Heron and a species of Tit- 

 lark and noted Savannah Sparrow, 

 Maryland Yellowthroat and some 

 others I previously mentioned. Eagle 

 eyre No. 1 was deserted ;and walking 

 five miles Professor pointed to two 



