372 
THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 
nesting was in full swing, and in all stages, from the egg to the nearly 
full-grown bird. 
The nests, crude affairs, each made of a handful of 
small sticks, were everywhere—in every available situation on the bushes 
A HeRON POSING FOR HIS PIc- 
The Bird Island Rookery, Lake 
Kissimmee, Florida. 
TURE. 

and small trees, and scattered over 
the ground in such numbers that 
one had to walk with care to avoid 
stepping on them. In some nests 
were eggs, as has been said, while 
in others were birds of all sizes, the 
larger of which scrambled away 
awkwardly at our approach. With 
a proper shelter it should be an easy 
matter to get any number of photo- 
graphs, at closest range, of these in- 
teresting birds. Circling. overhead 
was a flock of crows, watching for 
opportunities to swoop down, in the 
absence of the parents, and carry 
off the young birds from the nests. 
For studying reptiles and birds 
there is probably no more interest- 
ing locality in the United States 
than this subtropical region of cen- 
tral Florida; and if the ubiquitous 
gun sportsman can be kept away, 
the hunter with the camera may 
there enjoy his harmless and in- 
structive sport for many years to come. 
The writer will be glad to furnish information as to equipment, 
guides, etc., to any camera sportsman who may be interested ; powder- 
and-shot sportsmen need not apply. 
