For the Natural History Club.
One day in July, in company with a friend, I crossed a lake near my home in search of interesting specimens. By chance we came upon the nesting-place of a colony of water turkeys. These birds are abundant here, but this is the first time I ever found their nests. The latter appeared to be several years old and were large structures, nearly flat on top. It was late for eggs, and young birds were everywhere. They were covered with white down, and presented a great contrast to the dark colors of the old birds.
When the boat approached a tree containing young birds they would tumble into the water, a distance of ten or more feet, where they would dive long distances to escape us. The nests were in cypress-trees growing in two or three feet of water. Sometimes as many as a dozen nests were in one small tree. Under these trees we shot two small alligators. Perhaps the alligators knew the birds' habit of falling into the water. We also found nests of the purple and Florida gallinule. I would like to belong to a press association or corresponding Chapter.
Ed. H. Clute.
Lake City, Florida.