80 THE SWAMPS Of THE MISSISSIPPI. 



birds and animals which I found there. My principal object is to point out 

 one of the latter, which may probably be received with some hesitation. 

 The slaughter of the animal is not so much what I intend narrating, — 

 although that certainly occupies a portion of this paper, — but it is more 

 to establish the extraordinary tenacity of life possessed by the creature, and 

 a few of its habits, which I am not aware are sufficiently known. 



While travelling over the Eastern States, making myself practically 

 acquainted with the beautiful Orioles, Fly-catchers, Tanagers, and Wood- 

 peckers, so plentifully distributed in the primeval forests of that magnificent 

 country ; the temptations, though great, were not sufficient to induce me to 

 tarry by the banks of the Delaware, and the creeks of the Schuylkill, the 

 Susquehanna, and the Potomac, amongst the Swimmers, Stalkers, Pkmgers, 

 Divers, and Skulkers, so appropriately named, by the late talented and 

 eminent Professor Mc Gillivray. 



I had always looked foinvard, with unceasing delight, to the time when I 

 should paddle my own canoe in some of the western waters, which I had 

 first an opportunity of doing in the secluded lakes of Miskeego and Muck- 

 woaago, during the Indian summer of 1849. My first appearance that way 

 was both ridiculous and unfortunate. Indeed I was ashamed of it, Avhcn 

 compared with the skill of some Winnibago Indians, who glided past me 

 as though thej^ had been shadows. My error lay in striking too quickly with 

 my paddle, which invariably sent me too much to the right, then too much 

 to the left, and occasionally round about altogether ! I made a very brilliant 

 finish to the exhibition, by snatching up my gun, and shooting crossways 

 from my canoe, at a number of ducks that came flying past; which resulted 

 in my upsetting the whole business, and suddenly appearing from under- 

 neath, on the far side of tl^e cockle-shell. This was a lesson which I after- 

 wards turned to considerable account. 



The stillness which prevails at this particular season of the year, has 

 charms of no ordinary character. It gives one an idea of solitude not other- 

 wise easily realized. In place of the scorching and fiery summer, a delightful 

 change occurs, which renders the atmosphere deliciously refreshing. It 

 then assumes a hazy apiiearance, and a fragrance is imparted to it which, at 

 any other season, it does not seem to possess. The beauty of a crimson 

 sunset, reflected in an Indian lake, is a scene not easily forgotten. Its 

 fading magnificence brings forth the Night-Hawk {Caprimulgus Americanos) 

 in great numbers, to share its beauty, and to pursue its prey in countless 

 circles. The Night-Heron, [Ardea nycticorax,) as she descends from a lofty 

 tree, and plumps, with a scream, into the reedy margin of the lake, tends to 

 heighten the effect. The WTiip-poor-Will, {Caprimulgus vociferus,) announcing 

 himself immediately after sun-down, in a tone well suited to the prevailing 

 solitude, is followed by the hooting of the Owl, which proclaims the entire 

 departure of the day. It was only when such darkness arose as prevented 



