GREAT BLUE HERON AND WATER TURKEY 115 



" bonnets," as yellow pond-lilies are invariably called in 

 Florida, that the water was not visible, and it was necessary 

 to mow a path, with a machete, to the islets on which the 

 Water Turkeys and Herons proved to be nesting. These 

 islets, although only a few yards square, usually held at 

 least one cabbage palm, with an ash or willow and low 

 bushes ; their presence added largely to the beauty of a 



The Home of Heron and Water Turkey 



Note the blind under the palmetto at the left ; also the canoe floating 

 among the " bonnets " 



scene which, with its "moss" draped cypresses, and luxuri- 

 ant growth of bonnets and palms must have made a fine 

 setting for the Egrets, Spoonbills and Paroquets that were 

 doubtless abundant here when the troopers camped in the 

 neighboring pines. 



The place itself, however, bad lost none of its singular 

 picturesqueness and animal life was still abundant enough 



