And now the poor defrauded osprey must go to work and catch another
fish before he can have his dinner. Here you see the bald eagle with
his ill-gotten prey.
[Illustration: THE BALD EAGLE.]
Great flocks of ducks often come to fish in the shallow water close to
the shore. I suppose the reason that they come so near is that they
find smaller fish here than in the deep water; and another reason, they
are never shot at near the shore, for no fire-arms are allowed to be
discharged within the town limits, except under the penalty of five
dollars for each discharge.
This place, in winter, corresponds to a northern watering-place in
summer. There is a warm sulphur-spring here, and people come from all
quarters for health and for amusement. At first the great numbers of
birds all about attracted many sportsmen, but I am very glad to tell
you that the Florida people did not like this reckless shooting of
birds in their midst, so they made this beautiful little place--Green
Cove Spring--a city, and elected a mayor and a marshal, and other
officers, to keep the men straight, and to protect the birds.
So this is why the birds that live about this little city are so tame,
and why the ducks come so close to us; they have learned that they are
quite safe from guns here.
Pages:
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144