76 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



(there is nothing like it for tenderness in all bird language) and then 

 hop cautiously up the leafy back stairs to the nest. He would perch on 

 a twig, feed the young and after a merry little carol glide into place. I 

 could see his carmine throat peeping through the fragile nest and the 

 jetty head against the dark background of leaves. 



As the young birds warmed beneath his breast, he would break into 

 joyous song. Time after time I left my work and noislessly opening 

 the house door crept softly under the tree expecting to find my fair 

 singer perched on the great white oak where he carolled so many hours 

 when there were blue eggs in the nest. I saw his carmine throat swell 

 with song and there was not a doubt of the singer's identity. I learned 

 to tell when it was his turn brooding the young for snatches of song 

 frequently floated down from the old apple tree. It was not so strange 

 after all, with the June sky above and the sunshine dancing on the 

 leaves how could a happy bird keep such a secret to himself. 



ANHINGA. 



A. O- U. Xo. 118 (Anhinga anhinga ) 



RANGE. 



Tropical America, breeding along the Gulf coast and north to Iowa 

 and South Carolina. 



NESTS AND EGGS. 



Anhingas nest in many locations, the majority being at a low eleva- 

 tion while some are in high trees; as a rule, no matter where the nest 

 may be situated as regards elevation, it is always located over water. 

 Sometimes they nest singly or in isolated pairs, but more frequently 

 in large communities. They build rough shallow nests of sticks and 

 twigs on which they lay from three to five eggs; they are bluish or 

 greenish white in color and are covered with a white chalky deposit 

 which is generally scratched and seared by the birds feet. Their 

 nesting season in Florida continues from March until June. 



HABITS. 



The Anhingas are often called Water Turkeys, but perhaps are most 

 frequently known as Snake Birds because of the snake-like appearance 



