THE OOLOGIST. 



47 



sevenil nests during 1889. Nests were 

 made of grass, in the sliape of a coeoa- 

 nut. Eggs six in number, pure white. 



51 . ( Cldothorus jKthtsti-is) Long-billed 

 Marsh Wren. Abundant. Breeds in 

 the dry grass in sloughs, 



i)2. {Menda migmtoria) Ameriean 

 Robin. Very eonmion. 



Would like to see lists from other 

 counties of Iowa. 



John V. Crone, 

 Buena Vista Co., Iowa. 



A Day in tte Woods of Florida. 



On the banks of the Indian River 

 there is a field of study and delight for 

 the Naturalist, although perhaps tinc- 

 tured with some little danger, in 

 searching for the A"ariety of natural 

 products of this semi-tropical country 

 during the spring months. The deep 

 gloomy forests of cypresses and pines, 

 interpersed with tracts of live oaks, 

 maples, ^ arieties of palms and flower- 

 ing vines in full blossom, the open 

 tracts of country and vast swamps, 

 penetrated by the lagoons and creeks 

 of the Indian River, furnish an abund- 

 ant variety (jf specimens for the Ornith- 

 ologist, Entomologist and Botanist. 

 VeuoiTious serpents present the only 

 danger. The Water Moccasin {Toxico- 

 phis piscivorus) is the most abundant, 

 inhabiting the lov\% swampj^ district, 

 the Land Moccasin {Ancistrodon contor- 

 trix) or Copperhead being les^ numer- 

 ous, found on the dry lauds and lields, 

 and that terrible reptile, the Diamond 

 Rattlesnake ( Crotalus adanianten-'<) 

 Avhich attains the length of over nine 

 feet with a diameter of five inches and 

 more, is liable to be encountered in any 

 locality except the most swampy tracts 

 where the Water Moccasin is found. 

 These serpents and the Harlequin snake 

 f(nmd on the higher lands are the only 

 ones to lie viewed with dread. The 

 Rattlesnake is the least common of the 

 Croialida'. The Moccasin is quite 



abundant and equally to be dread«d. 

 With the exception of these reptiles U)- 

 gether with centipedes, some large 

 spiders and an occasional scorpion, 

 there are no other drawbacks to the 

 field naturalist and collector. The tinj- 

 itl may exclaim that these were surely 

 enough drawbacks and should serve to 

 dampen the ardor of the Naturalist, 

 but there are always dangers and ob- 

 stacles to the student of Nature which 

 increase to a great ext-mt in more trop- 

 ical countries, where one has to be on 

 almost constant guard against the larg- 

 er beasts of prey, enornunis serpents, 

 the Boas and Pythons as well as the 

 smaller venomous snakes, and innum- 

 erable swarms of spiders, scorpions 

 and centipedes and other pests which 

 deter all but the most enthusiastic; nat- 

 uralist from thorough investigation. 

 Florida is ccmiparatively exempt frcjm 

 dangerous animals. An occasional 

 Panther or Bear may rarely be encount- 

 ered in the dense forests, but Avhich are 

 of a more cowardly disposition than 

 otherwise, seldom attacking man unless 

 wounded and at bay. All danger is for- 

 gotten by the naturalist eager in pur- 

 suit of some rare object. I remember 

 encountering a large moccasin while 

 threading my way through a villainous 

 swamp in search of the beautiful Hood- 

 ed Warbler {Sylvia mitratns) which 

 frequents low, swampy woods. The 

 serpent was c(uled and ready to strike 

 when I noticed it. I hastily retreated a 

 few paces and shot it. I decided to 

 retrace my steps and n<it penetrate 

 farther into the morass v.hcn my mind 

 Avas diverted by a few tinkling notes. 

 Looking in the direction from which 

 they proceeded I saw the object of my 

 search flitting among the bushes, and 

 forgetting my decision to turn back, 

 and intent on securing the warbler, I 

 started in pursuit. The bird led me a 

 long chase, and eventually disappeai-ed 

 for good and I was left a quarter of a 

 mile farther in the swamp, vcxeil and 



