164 STOEIES or BIRD LIFE 



on another mile, first over a marsh, then through a tangled 

 jungle of vines and forest trees, the guide carrying the 

 canoe inverted over his head. Here the tracks of the wild 

 deer and gray squirrels were abundant. 



Again our canoe was launched and we found ourselves 

 floating upon the body of water known as Big Lake. For 

 seven miles it spread before us, a beautiful rippling sheet. 

 For two-thirds the distance the shore is lined by a dense 

 cypress swamp, the remaining portion being clothed with 

 a barren pine pocoson. The timber everywhere grows 

 down to the water's edge, and many cypress trees and 

 stumps stand well out from shore like giant forest mon- 

 archs who have waded knee deep into the cooling lake. 

 Many of these contain the immense nests of the osprey, 

 the fierce fish eagle of the ocean and lakes. 



Herons also, of several species, had built nests for their 

 young here and there on the boughs of the overhang- 

 ing trees. Probably not more than once or twice a year 

 does a boat of any kind ever float on this secluded lake. 

 There are no dwelling houses for miles around and the 

 wild creatures here are seldom disturbed. A doe and her 

 fawn coming down to the water to drink eyed us from a 

 distance for many minutes before taking fright. Two large 

 alligators floated quietly in our course, making no effort to 



