BIRD RESERVATIONS 



is about the sizeof a Turkey hen. Its long, bareneck 

 terminates in a most remarkable fashion, for the top 

 of the head is not only innocent of feathers but also 

 destitute of skin — " Flintheads," the people call the 

 bird. Its bill is nearly ten inches long, slightly 

 curved and very massive. Woe to the unlucky fish 

 or luckless rat upon whom a blow falls from the Flint- 

 head's heavy beak! There were probably one hun- 

 dred thousand of these birds inhabiting Corkscrew 

 Rookery at the time of my visit. There were also 

 large colonies of the smaller White Ibis and several 

 varieties of Heron. Eight of the almost extinct 

 Roseate Spoonbills wheeled into view above the 

 swamp, but quickly passed from sight. 



The most interesting birds, those concerning which 

 the Audubon Society is most solicitous, are the White 

 Egrets. These snow-white models of grace and 

 beauty have been persecuted for their plumes almost 

 to the point of extermination, and here is situated 

 the largest assemblage of them left in Florida. 



"Those 'long whites' are never off my mind for a 

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