“SNAKE-BIRD” 73 
The great blue heron 
usually nests 
Florida Great jin trees. ‘The 
Blue Heron é ‘ ‘ 
Group bird flies with 
its neck curved 
back on its body and be- 
cause of this habit can read- 
ily be distinguished from 
the crane with which it is 
frequently confounded. (Re- 
produced from studies near 
St. Lucie, Florida.) 
In the “‘bonnets”’ or yel- 
Water Turkey low pond-lily 
or swamps with 
ae cypresses and 
cabbage  pal- 
mettoes, the shy water tur- 
key builds its nest. It 
receives the name “‘turkey”’ 
from its turkey-like tail and 
the title ‘‘snake-bird”’ from 
its habit of swimming with 
only the long slender neck 
above water. (Reproduced 
from studies near St. Lucie, 
Florida. ) 
The sandhill crane builds 
its nest of reeds 

Sandhill Crane . 
Group in the water. 
Unlike the 
herons in this respect, it A PORTION OF THE EGRET GROUP 
differs also in its manner As shown here, the birds carry their plumes only dur- 
: ; ing the nesting season; killing the parents means the 
of flight, alwavs stretching slow starvation of the young. 
its neck well when on the wing. (Reproduced from studies on the 
Kissimmee Prairies of Florida.) 
Pelican Island on the Indian River of Florida has been made a 
reservation by the United States Government and these grotesque birds 
may now breed there undisturbed. The view shows a 
section of the island ai the height of the nesting season. 
Notwithstanding the hundreds of young birds that are 
clamoring for food, observation has shown that the parent bird can 
Brown Pelican 
Group 

