Page:Natural History, Reptiles.djvu/69

Rh which trout are most abundant, white-perch, catfish, and alligator-gars, or devil-fish. Thither in the early part of autumn, when the heat of a southern sun has evaporated much of the water, the squatter, the planter, the hunter, all go in search of sport. The lakes then are about two feet deep, having a fine sandy bottom. Frequently much grass grows in them, bearing crops of seed, for which multitudes of water-fowl resort to those places. The edges of these lakes are deep swamps, muddy for some distance, overgrown with heavy large timber, principally cypress, hung with Spanish-beard, and tangled with different vines, creeping plants, and cane, so as to render them almost dark during the day. Here and there in the lakes are small islands, with clusters of the same trees, on which flocks of snake-birds, wood-ducks, and different species of herons, build their nests. Fishing-lines, guns, and rifles, some salt and some water, are all the hunters take. Two negroes precede them, the woods are crossed—the scampering deer is seen—the racoon and the opossum cross before you—the black, the grey, and the fox-squirrel are heard barking. As you proceed further on, the hunk, hunk, of the lesser ibis is heard from different parts, as they rise from the puddles that supply them with cray-fishes. At last the opening of the lake is seen. It has now become necessary to draw oneself along the deep mud, making the best of the way, with the head bent, through the small bushy growth, caring about nought but the lock of your gun. The long, narrow, Indian canoe, kept to hunt these lakes, and taken into them during the fresh, is soon launched, and the