The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-05-20
NEW BIRD SPECIMEN
FROM THE EVERGLADES
SCIENT-HUNTERS END HARD
SHIPS IN FLORIDA WILDS.
HACK THROUGH SWAMPS.

PITTSBURG, Pa.-With several
specimens of rare birds and orchids in
their possession George M. Sutton, of
Bethany, w. Va, ornithologist in
charge of the new series of habitat
groups for the Carnegie Museum,
Pittsburg, and John B. Semple, of Sc
wickly, Pa, returned last week from
the tropical region of Florida, where
they spent some time in the famous
Mangrove Swamp, 90 miles south of
Cocoanut Grove, at the lower end of
the peninsula.
The two men who are collecting a
new series of habitat groups, which,
when completed, will number 80, spent
a month in the famous swamp, I'M
dergoing considerable hardship and
suffering greatly for the want of food
and fresh water.
Few Human Habitations.
The Mangrove Swamp region
stretches from Cape Sable northward
and is one of the few primitive from
tiers remaining in America. Tropical
vegetation in all its luxurious colors,
shapes and contrasts exists in abund-
ance in this region and human habi-
tation is almost entirely absent. At
times it was necessary for two men
to cut and hack their way along the
waterways, progress being extremely
slow,
Fifty specimens OF bird life were OBJ
tanned during the journey through the
swamp. Those new to the Pittsburg
collection are: Little sparrow hawk,
great white heron largest in Amer
ica), wood ibis (related to the sacred
ibis OF Egypt, snow heron, roseate
spoon-bi1l and Cape Sable seaside
sparrow.
The roseate SPOONFUL is very rare
bird. But few have ever been seen on
this continent and only two, or three,
are in hand The collectors had an OPP
portunity to see several of these birds
in the swamps, but, of the 10 they
viewed at short range, they shot only
one.
The Cape Sable sparrow also is an
unusual find, since it occurs in only
two other collections. The specimen
obtained by Sutton and Semple was
landed only after long hunt and is a
fine type of bird.
Got Few Photographs.
Due to unfavorable weather condi-
tons few photographs were obtained
on the trip. However, the collectors
were able to make two splendid field
sketches, one of the wood ibis and
the other of the swallow-tailed kite
in the act of eating a snake while po1s-
ed in mid-air Both sketches were
made by Mr. Sutton while in the heart
of the great Everglade region and
bring out the characteristics and color
ing of the two birds better than pho
tographs could have done.
The kite, according to Mr.. Sutton,
is almost continually or the wing and
alights only at rare intervals.
The wood ibis is a very large birc
of black and white feathering with {
rosy flush on the feathers beneath the
wings.
The roseate spoon-bill and the Cape
Sable seaside sparrow, as is the case
with ali very rare specimens, will not
be mounted at the Carnegie Museum
but will be kept in alright cases away
from light along with other treasures
OF the museum that are almost i'm
possible to replace.
Hunt in Canoe.
All hunting in the swamp was done
from a canoe, due to the treacherous
nature of the bog and morass under
foot. Both men suffered greatly from
the torrid humidity and extreme heat
and, to add to their difficulties, fresh
water was unobtainab1e anywhere in
the Everglades. What little they used
was carried in their canoe with their
other supplies.
Commenting on the drainage work
now under way in the Everglade re-
gion Mr.. Sutton said: "The Ever
glades are being drained rapidly and
It will not be long before all the ma
tive birds will be driven out or die
from other causes. Probably the most
destructive agent to the feathered life
in these great swamps are the Indians
and natives, who, despite all laws, con-
tinue to exterminate the birds for their
plumage."
The feathers are struggled over to
Cuba and Paris and bring high prices.