54 THE SWAMPS OF THE MISSISSIPPI. 



calculated to illustrate some of the great geological changes at present 

 iu operation. 



A morass of this character is well qualified for the production and support 

 of many foul specimens of animal life, whose existence is amply sustained 

 and wonderfully developed by the abundant variety which Nature has so 

 liberally provided for them. Specimens of which must be daily taking up 

 their positions amongst the vast accumulating masses of vegetable corrup- 

 tion, and whose fossil remains at some distant age are quite as likely to 

 afford a subject of as grave discussion amongst geologists and comparative 

 anatomists as ever the revelation of the Iguanodon or the Pterodactylus 

 has done; and I cannot but think that the production here of either 

 the Catfish, or the Stingaree (species of the Silurits), which are so very 

 numerous in the Swamps of the Mississippi and the Alabama, would create 

 some astonishment, the sting of either seldom failing to produce giddiness 

 and vomiting ; and frequently insensibility, and occasionally death itself. I 

 was stung bj^ one in the swamps of the Alabama river, in the month of 

 December, 1850, which had the immediate effect of rendering me sick, with 

 an inclination to vomit. The sting consists of a serrated spine, situated 

 underneath the pectoral fins, which can be elevated at pleasure ; in size it 

 corresponds with the ajjpearance of the fish ; they grow to an enormous size, 

 and in the markets of Louisiana I have frequently seen them weighing 

 upwards of 1401bs. The voracity of this fish corresponds well with his 

 expression, and on one occasion I was nearly dragged head first into a 

 lagoon of the Alabama, by one of them seizing hold of a duck, from 

 ■which I was washing the blood, preparatory to cooking, — a Science, by the 

 way, in which I never made any great progress. 



The clouds of ducks up the sloughs and byous of the Illinois river, and 

 also at the mouth of the Yayoo confirmed me in my anticipations of what I 

 might expect in the Swamps of the Mississippi ; a day or so afterwards I 

 observed a small boat which had just emerged from them, on her way down 

 the river loaded with a variety which caused me to open my eyes wider than 

 I have ever done since ; an inquiry as to how I was to get to the " promised 

 land " was received either w^ith suspicion or inattention; but upon a further 

 trial I was told by the men that they merely traded for the ducks at the 

 mouths of the byous, and that they knew nothing more of the men than 

 handing them the dollars and receiving the birds. The following day I 

 joined a boat going up for the same purpose, and fraternized vnth a Ducker, 

 who took me on board without any hesitation. I told him I had no meat, 

 but that I had some money. 



' " I have the meat without the money ; and I reckon," says he, "that's just 

 ichaar we differ." 



("To he continued.) 



