FLORIDA BIRD NOTES. 
139 
but during the day, I saw a dark heron go hurrying, half 
running, half flying, after his dinner. They forget their 
dignity when in a hurry. 
A flock of small birds, evidently moved by one spring, 
rise at the same instant, circle several times over the water, 
uttering a shrill, not unmusical cry, and settle with a com¬ 
mon impulse to feed. As they show much white in their 
flight, they are noticeable at a distance. I am told they are 
plovers. 
The kingfisher has a curious habit of poising in the air, 
high over the water, and balancing with rapidly moving 
wings, until he darts after a luckless fish he has spied. If 
he finds he is not going to make a hit, he changes his plan 
and, in the most nonchalant fashion, pretends he was just 
taking a little exercise. 
An attractive sight was a flock of six or seven white 
cranes, pointed out, as they flew, by a native “cracker.” 
Questioning the colored children has brought out some in¬ 
teresting information in regard to “crames,” jay-birds and 
so forth. I was solemnly assured, when I pointed out a 
kingfisher, “dat we calls dem eagles!” 
I find that “by book and by look” the Florida jay lacks 
the prominent crest worn by the relative common to the 
North and South. 
With the mention of a woodpecker with a red head my 
chapter closes. 
Tarpon Springs, Fla., Dec. 30, 1900. 
The Institute has secured for its museum the wood¬ 
chuck’s head described in the last number of Nature 
Study. 
The comparative rarity of the winter birds, commonly 
abundant in this vicinity, commented upon by “Pinfeath¬ 
er Ornithologist,” has been generally noticed by observers 
this winter. We do not appear to be reaching an explana¬ 
tion; but it is well that the question has been raised. 
