16 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



rendering the shore quite novel to my anxious eye. Some birds 

 were shot, and secured so as to be brought back, in order to 

 undergo the skinning operation. Before long we entered the 

 Halifax river, an inland arm of the sea, measuring in breadth 

 from a quarter to nearly a mile. 



They reached a spot, called "Live Oak Landing," 

 where a schooner from New York was then anchored, 

 and there passed the night. 



At sunrise the next morning, I and four negro servants 

 proceeded in search of birds and adventures. The fact is, 

 that I was anxious to kill some 25 brown Pelicans ... to 

 enable me to make a new drawing of an adult male bird, and 

 to procure the dresses of the others. I proceeded along a 

 narrow, shallow bay, where the fish were truly abundant. Would 

 you believe it, if I were to say, that the fish nearly obstructed 

 our head-way? Believe it, or not, so it was; the waters were 

 filled with them, large and small. I shot some rare birds, and 

 putting along the shore, passed a point, when lo, I came in 

 sight of several hundred pelicans, perched on the branches 

 of mangrove trees, seated in comfortable harmony, as near each 

 other as the strength of the boughs would allow. I ordered to 

 back water gently ; the hands backed water. I waded to the 

 shore under cover of the rushes along it, saw the pelecans fast 

 asleep, examined their countenances and deportment well and 

 leisurely, and after all, levelled, fired my piece, and dropped 

 two of the finest specimens I ever saw. I really believe I would 

 have shot one hundred of these reverend sirs, had not a mis- 

 take taken place in the reloading of my gun. A mistake, how- 

 ever, did take place, and to my utmost disappointment, I saw 

 each pelecan, old and young, leave his perch, and take to 

 wing, soaring off, well pleased, I dare say, at making so good 

 an escape from so dangerous a foe. 



After shooting more birds, and pushing or pulling 

 their boat "over oyster banks sharp as razors," they 



