42 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 70. 



a part of Florida. We proceeded northward up the Apa- 

 lachicola River, a distance of about six miles, to the mouth of 

 Jackson's Old River, into which we turned. The river, as 

 may be supposed, takes its name from General Jackson, and 

 many local traditions are handed down of how he here beard- 

 ed the Spaniards in their den. Although it is only eight miles 

 long, the river is from one-fourth to one-half mile wide. It 

 simply forms the outlet of Lake Wimlico. connecting it with 

 the Apalachicola River. After proceeding through Jackson's 

 Old River we entered Lake Wimlico. which is one of the most 

 beautiful of the numerous lakes of Florida, many of which 

 are remarkable for their rare beauty. 



This lake is located in the southern part of Calhoun County, 

 in a region which is generally known as the St. Jo Country. 

 Owing to the lowness of the land and the consequent wet con- 

 ditions for a large part of each year, this region is very sparse- 

 ly settled and has l)een disturbed by man to a very limited ex- 

 tent. In fact, almost everything exists in its primeval beauty. 

 As will be noted from this brief narrative, the lake lies north- 

 west of .'\palachicola. and is less than fifteen miles distant. It 

 is rather long and narrow, being about twelve miles long and 

 from two to six miles wide. It is surrounded by almost inter- 

 minable cypress swamps, with here and there a small area of 

 " piney " woods, which areas are all well back from the lake. 



Besides the Cypress with its graceful festoons of Spanish 

 " Moss." the prevailing trees are Black Gum. Cabbage. Spruce 

 Pine, and Slash Pine. The magnificent Cabbage. Spruce 

 interspersed here and there, some of which are forty feet in 

 height, give the region a tropical appearance. The berries of 

 the Black Gum constitute a very important ])art of the food 

 of the Florida Black Bear, which is still found in considerable 

 numbers in these almost limitless swamps. 



Flowing into the lake are several creeks, or bayous. We 

 proceeded to the mouth of one called Indian Bayou, near the 

 upper end of the lake. While going through the lake it was 

 not difficult to imagine what a birds" paradise this place must 

 be during the nesting season, especially for water-loving and 



