BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



Chapter II. 



BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



The birds of Florida are more numerous and more 

 brilliant in plumage than their Northern relatives, but 

 with all their beautiful dress and coquettish ways, they 

 cannot win me from the earlier, deeper love that draws 

 me to the more soberly attired songsters of the North. 



My observations are confined to the birds which fre- 

 quent the grounds connected with the cottage where I 

 reside. The cottage is situated on the banks of the 

 St. John River, surrounded with native trees : live and 

 water oaks and the great-flowered magnolia {Magnolia 

 grandiflora) form the larger part of the grove. A 

 hedge of Spanish -bayonets ( Yucca aloifoUa) extends 

 along the front of the cottage ; the yellow jasmine and 

 other vines cling about the piazzas or trail over trees. 

 These natural advantages, with a little judicious train- 

 ing, make the place a favorite resort for many birds. 

 During six months of the year they are sole possessors 

 of the premises, and by natural right are more at home 

 than the legal proprietors. 



It is very amusing to note the curiosity manifested 

 by these feathered denizens upon the arrival of the fam- 



