BIRDS OP FLORIDA. 55 



taste, when he dives into the water and brings it up ; 

 and now beating it upon the railing until it is quite 

 limp, he swallows it. Small fish -scales are scattered 

 along the entire length of the railing, where he has 

 dressed his fish preparatory to taking his meals. 



Notwithstanding the public wharf is only a few rods 

 distant, with the confusion and noise consequent upon 

 the landing of steamers, and crowds of people so near, 

 yet this intrepid fisher continues his occupation as un- 

 concerned as if alone in the wilderness. 



This species is the only representative of the family 

 in the United States. Although it is not classed by 

 ornithologists among the Haptores, yet it has character- 

 istics in common with this large order. After a meal 

 it ejects from its mouth a large pellet made up of the 

 indigestible bones and scales of the fish it has swal- 

 lowed. The pellet seems to be so out of proportion to 

 the size of the bird that it is something of a marvel 

 how it manages to eject it ; but it does not seem to cost 

 it much of an effort: a little stretching of the neck 

 upward, with the head thrown forward, and the feat is 

 accomplished. 



