Notices of the Floridas, &c. 131 
ee the root is beat in water, dried, and pulverized. The 
oot of the Indian potatoe, a native plant, has an agreeable 
‘ait and is much used by the Indians. 
Tigers, supposed to be a variety of the northern*panther 
frequent the extensive thickets of Florida ; they are large 
ae ferocious. Wolves are often seen—the Indians destroy 
many of them by poisoned meat, which is drawn a conside- 
rable distance and attracts all that encounter the trail. 
Bears, wild-cats, foxes, pole-cats, raccoons, rabbits, and 
squirrels are common. Deer are numerous on the conti- _ 
nent and islands, the pines and prairies afford them fine gra- 
-zing, and the thickets shelter. 
he birds most frequently seen are wild turkeys, geese, 
ducks, owls, cranes, herons, hawks, crows, black birds, rice- 
birds, robins, mocking-birds, woodpeckers, turkey-buz- 
zards, and Spanish whip-poor-will. The most trouble- 
some insects are moschetoes, fleas, chicers, and ticks, 
Below the 28th degree “of latitude they are active through 
the year, and in the northern part of Florida, from April to 
December. Scorpions are sometimes seen 
Rattlesnakes are numerous in Florida, and not unfre- 
quently six feet in length, sometimes eight and nine, and in 
one instance twelve. From the warmth of the climate, ren- 
dering the poison very active, from the size of the serpent 
and deep wound inflicted by its large fangs, the bite is 
generally fatal, though of rare occurrence. Of this rep- 
tile, three descriptions are remarked in Florida ; the com- 
mon rattlesnake with a checkered back; a snake black or 
dark brown on the back, a whitish yellow belly with spots 
near the tail; and the ground rattlesnake, about a. foot in 
' length. Mocasins are common in the fresh waters. Black 
and chicken snakes are often seen. 
Alligators are numerous in all the lakes and considera- 
ble streams of the interior ; their loud and heavy roar sound- 
ing like distant thunder, or a lion’s growl, is most frequent- 
ly heard at night, or during a warm rain; they travel on 
shore from one body of water to another, often a considera- 
ble distance ; they rarely attack the human race—dogs are 
ne favorite prey. 
are abundant in the salt and fresh waters of pic. 
Figs the best and most frequently caught, are sheeps- 
head in salt water; and in fresh near Lake George, trout, 
