The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-01-17
QUEER SPECIES OF BIRDS
Turkeys Of Florida That Take to the
Water just Like Ducks.

Water just Like Ducks.
Comparatively few aquatic birds, ex-
cept those which are migratory, are
remarkable for power of flight In
deed, they are apt to be deficient in
that respect On the other hand, birds
that are strong of wing, such as the
lark or hawk, seldom go near the wa
ter, except to drink, There are, how
ever, few winged creatures that pos
sess both traits to a remarkable degree,
and a group of them, secured by Frank
M. Chapman with great difficulty in
Florida, constitutes one of the new ac-
QUESTIONS of the American Museum OF
natural history in West Seventy-sev-
enth street The group includes two
| full grown specimens and four or five
| nestlings. These are shown, with a
nest, in a glass case like that in which
Mr. Chapman exhibited a number OF
pelicans last year.
This pathological novelty is vari-
| ously known as the water turkey, the
snake bird, the darter and plotus an
hinga. In size, general coloring and
! the possession of a broad tail it strik-
ipgly resembles the farmyard turkey,
though possibly it is trife smaller.
Its neck is much longer and more slen-
der, too. This part Of the creature Is
curved very mach after the fashion
of swans neck, and is strongly sug-
gestive Of a snake when it's body is
immersed in the water. The web foot,
compact under plumage and fondness
for diving ally it closely to the loon.
The water turkey will often swim for
long distances with every part of it's
body submerged, except a small portion
of its bill. Thus it possesses all the
marked characteristics Of typical
aquatic bird. Yet it will perch on the
branch of tree just as hawk does,
and what is even more singular it will
poise itself in the upper air, like an
eagle, maintaining it's position appar-
emily without futter of its powerful
pinions.
The swiftness with which it attacks
it's prey accounts for the name darter
and for the retention of what it once
captures it is peculiarly qualified by
fine serrations near the end of It's slen-
der bill. The latter is also employed
it is believed to peck out the eyes OF
feathered assailants Herons have beer
known to serve an eagle in this man
ner when the bird of freedom was toe
aggressive. Still it is only during the
brooding season that the heron anc
water turkey develop such savage dis
positions.
Another illustration of the double
character of this queer bird is its nest
which shows a comparatively high or
der of architectural skill, whereas
AQUATIC birds usually have only tn
most rudimentary of nests. The genu
plotus is found only in warm countries
There are two or three species fount
in the old world The anhinga is tn
only American species, and its habita
is the vicinity of the Gulf of Mexic
, and South America Even in these re
gfons it is not any too abundant. t
, capture the specimens which have bee
. mounted for the Natural History mt
scum Mr.. Chapman was Obliged to pus
p his way up the st. Johns far abov
e navigation.
6 The ornithological branch Of the q
e illogical department of the museum ha
! OF late given attention to the birds
T be found within 80 miles of New Yor
I City. Popular education on this poir
v was appreciably promoted last year
! the arrangement and display of spec
q mems, with special reference to II
= months and seasons. The work is no
being extended in order to illustra
@ the nesting habits of these same bird
l. The nests of between so and 100 sp
y cies will be shown. They vary great
l. in size, material, textile skill and Co
tents, and constitute a particular
II popular and fascinating study. II
n location Of the nest, whether upon Il
ir ground in a sand bank or in a ire
e is also to be indicated. The value al
Is intelligibility of the exhibit will be e
s. HANGED by accompanying photograp
ID one. two or three Of these being d
Is voted to each species Many Of
ID pictures were obtained by Mr. Cha
e. man himself Those who have re
as his Bird Studies With a Gamer
er know how successful he is in such
SO yestigation.-New York Tribune.