Ridgway.] 314 [February 18, 



of the species and so much in harmony with the wildness of a virgin 

 forest. Parakeets (Conurus carolinensis) occasionally commence 

 their screeching notes, and now and then a solitary individual — 

 more rarely a small flock — dashes by as it pursues its rapid, erratic 

 flight through the trees. Oftener, however, they may be heard on 

 every hand, but the closest and most persevering search will fail to 

 discover one of them, since their green color renders it almost im- 

 possible to distinguish them from the thick foliage in which they 

 are hidden. The yelping "log-cock," or "black wood-cock" (Hylo- 

 tomus pileatus) is sure to be now and then seen or heard, while 

 a glimpse at a noble ivory-bill (CampepMlus principalis) is a possible 

 sight. As the evening shades thicken, and the stars come out, 

 the melancholy notes of the whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vocif- 

 erus) are heard, occasionally answered by the louder voice of the 

 chuck-will's-widow (A. carolinensis); at intervals we hear the plain- 

 tive, wailing notes of the wood pewee (Contopus virens), and the 

 monotonous lisping note of the Empidonax acadicus) while the 

 utterances of these twilight birds — all expressive of great solitude — 

 are accompanied by the rasping of the katydids aud the chirp of 

 crickets. These nocturnal voices of the forest of the bottom-lands 

 continue without intermission through the night, though in the neigh- 

 borhood of the bayous or " ponds " they are drowned by the chorus 

 of frogs, whose notes range from the delicate peep of a warbler to the 

 hoarse bellowing of a bull. These, in turn, are frightened to silence 

 by the harsh discordant squawk of the great blue heron (Ardea 

 Tierodias), as, startled, he flies up at one's approach. Before the frogs 

 resume their clatter one hears the little screech owl (Scops asio) 

 wailing tremulously. The loud echoing hoot of the barred owl 

 (Syrnium nebulosum), and the hoarser, more gutteral utterance of the 

 great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), are heard at intervals until 

 morning, when they are relieved by the gobbling and yelping of the 

 wild turkeys (Meleagris sylvestris) and the various notes of the other 

 birds which usher in the day. 



