4 
BOSTBHAMUS S0CIAB1L1S. 
DESCRIPTION OP EGGS. 
Nest No. 3. Egg No. 1.—Ground color bluish white, spotted and blotched everywhere with brown and 
umber. Dimensions, l-72xl-45. Form similar to Fig. 1 (Plate V). No. 2 (Plate V, Fig. 1).—Ground color same 
as No. 1. Two large irregular blotches of dark brown and umber on the larger end, with smaller confluent blotches, 
and streaks of the same, covering nearly the entire surface of that end, smaller end much more sparsely spotted 
with the same. Dimensions, l-76xl-40. 
Nest No. 5. Egg No. 1 (Plate V. Fig. 2). — Ground color, dirty brown. The entire egg, except the small 
end, covered with a washing of dark brown, which forms dark irregular blotches at various points, as if the egg 
had been painted and then taken in the fingers, before drying. Dimensions, l-55xl-55. Form similar to Fig. 2 
(Plate Y.) 
HABITS. 
The Everglades ! Nearly every intelligent individual looks with interest on these words, 
but to him who loves to study the works of Nature they express volumes of untold won¬ 
ders ; for long has this section of Florida been an unknown land to the naturalist. Owing to 
their remote situation, but few white men ever enter their limits. Indeed, I will venture to 
state that it would be difficult to find a hundred individuals who have stood within then- 
borders. Few among this number would possess any great degree of intelligence, and perhaps 
none would be students of Nature. I had long desired to see this far-famed spot, and was 
therefore much pleased to find myself on the banks of the Miami Eiver, and learn that this 
beautiful stream was one of the numerous thoroughfares used by the Seminoles in passing to 
and from their homes in Pi-i-o-kee', the Indian name for the Everglades. 
Not long after our arrival four of us entered a small dingey with the intention of visiting 
them. This attempt, however, proved unsuccessful, for we were unable to stem the swift current 
with the boat so heavily laden. 
But a few days later, on February 18th, accompanied only by Mrs. Maynard, I again made 
the attempt. We started early in the morning and rowed up the winding river, the margins of 
which were bordered for some distance with mangroves. Leaving these we came into a more 
open country, and caught sight of the pine barrens. Still we pushed onward, passed the only 
houses, or rather shanties, that disgrace the banks, and entered the unbroken wilderness beyond. 
The river’s edges were now overhung by a dense growth of flowering shrubs from which rose an 
occasional palmetto that hung its graceful fronds high in air. Sometimes a dead live-oak 
stretched its whitened arms over the stream. These leafless branches would be chosen by the 
Anhingas as a perch. Here they sat in silence, moving their long outstretched necks with 
graceful gesture, until we approached almost within gun-shot, when they would rise and fly 
quickly up-stream. Large water oaks also overhung the river with their evergreen foliage 
thickened with numerous parasitic plants and creepers which grew upon the huge branches or 
twined in graceful festoons over them. These secluded places were the chosen retreats of the 
Yellow-crowned Night Herons. As we drew near they rose in flocks, with discordant screams, 
and followed in the wake of the Anhingas. Small companies of White Ibis flew swiftly over, 
and high above us, on motionless wings, circled an Osprey, ever drawing nearer the head of the 
river. Several Kingfishers dashed past, rattling merrily as they flew to their fishing grounds 
above. 
The stream, however, grew narrower, and the current very rapid, but everything seemed to 
invite us onward and by redoubling my efforts we were enabled to proceed slowly. After a 
row of six miles we reached the foot of some rapids. This declivity was quite abrupt, with 
steep, rocky sides, and the water rushed down in a furious manner. Stimulated by the thought 
that the unexplored region was beyond, we concluded to attempt the difficult passage and landed 
on the rocky bank. It was destitute of vegetation for some feet from the water, and by means 
of the painter I drew the boat slowly up the foaming river, while my companion kept it off the 
