44** FISH AND WILDFOWL IN FLORIDA. 



many other fish is very changeable and uncertain in 

 its habits. It has, however, been found to take better 

 in very bright weather than on dull days, and it is 

 generally said that the hotter and brighter the day, 

 the better chance there is of good sport. In this 

 respect the tarpon follows the example of the cele- 

 brated fresh water sporting fish of India, the Mahseer 

 (Barbus Macroccphalus] for which the water can never 

 be too clear and bright, or the weather too hot. 



The visitor to Florida will do well to bring his guns 

 as well as his salmon and trout rods with their tackle, 

 for the waters of Florida literally teem with numerous 

 varieties of wildfowl and fish of all sorts and sizes. 

 In landing on the busl>clad banks of lakes and streams, 

 or in travelling through the bush in the wilder sections 

 of country, we may add, it is highly desirable that 

 the traveller should be provided with good leathern 

 gaiters, as snakes are exceedingly numerous and venom- 

 ous. It is but a few years ago since an English 

 gentleman met a sad end in consequence of neglect 

 of this precaution. He was wearing knickerbockers and 

 stockings only, when a rattlesnake suddenly struck him 

 on the ankle, and he died in great agony some hours 

 afterwards. 



The wildfowl shooting as well as the fishing is some- 

 times very fine, immense flocks of duck of many kind, 

 besides numerous other species of beautiful birds, abound; 

 among the wading birds for instance, the pelican, the 

 flamingo, the egret, ibis, heron, etc., are often seen in 

 large flocks. 



Captain Townshend, speaking of the incredible num- 

 bers and varieties of the fish states that they are some- 

 thing quite phenomenal, and says 



