FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. (5 
The following entries from the writer’s journal will serve to 
convey an impression of the character of our work: 
“ August 9th: With the light wagon and saddle horses started 
at eight o'clock for the sand hills, capturing a number of “ Cha- 
mellons”’ (Anolis principalis) on the way. Arriving at the hills, 
we found burrows of the Gopher Tortoise (Testudo polyphemus ) 
on every hand, but all the tortoises were below ground. Capt- 
ured a number of Swifts, and, returning, we bagged six large 
water snakes. 
“ August loth: Started out before daybreak, for the sand hills, 
anticipating that at dawn the tortoises would be above ground. 
Arriving at our destination an hour later, we were disappointed 
at finding none. The only explanation is, that the intense heat 
had driven these animals into a state of temporary estivation. 
The water in the swamps is rapidly evaporating, and large water 
snakes were seen wandering about in the dried areas. 
“ August 11th: The heat is intense—r1o1° F. in the shade. 
Unable to do much work during the day. Captured a specimen 
of the Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon simus), which reptile, true 
to its characteristics, alternately feigned death and came to lite 
again, much to the consternation of the negroes, who declared 
we exerted a mysterious influence over the snake. In the evening 
we went into Black Swamp in search of rattle-snakes. Found a 
beautiful specimen of the Cane-break Rattle-snake that had been 
freshly killed. This is a southern variety of Crotalus horridus. 
The ground color is a delicate shade of pink, traversed by wide 
bands of black; along the back is a narrow stripe of rusty red. 
“ August 12th: The heat continues. Went on horseback to the 
causeway. In the morning we discovered an Alligator’s nest. It 
consisted of a mound of decomposing vegetable matter, about 
four feet in diameter and three feet high, half hidden among 
some bushes, and at the edge of a small pool. The nest con- 
tained thirty-seven eggs. These were two and a half inches long 
and one inch and a quarter in diameter. The shells were of much 
the consistency of a hen’s egg, and when struck together, pro- 
duced a metallic, almost a ringing sound. The entire nest and 
eges were packed on one of our horses. On the return to the 
clubhouse, we captured two Chicken Snakes (Coluber quadrivit- 
tatus) in a deserted cabin. 
“ August 13th: Went through the low grounds along the Sa- 
