558 FOREST, FIELD, AND PRAIRIE. 



showers. Floating quietly with the current or tide, a patient 

 hunter may surprise almost all the game birds and animals, and he 

 will see more of interest in the little streams than in miles of the 

 frequented channels. For exploration and travel a boat eighteen 

 to twenty-two feet long, four and a half or five feet beam, with the 

 full width carried to the stern, built with a flat keel, and broad 

 bearings to insure light draft, fitted with centre board and sail, the 

 latter on sliding topmast for compactness, will be found the best. 

 When anchored the bow will point to the wind. A tent open aft 

 may be hung under the boom, spread with stretchers, and furled 

 sail ; and with light boards a bed for three or four may be arranged, 

 and cooking by spirit lamp be done at the wide stern. With such 

 a boat, and two good negroes, boatmen, (cooks they generally are,) 

 more interesting trips can be made than with a yacht, and more 

 unfrequented points be reached. If cruising in the wide waters is 

 intended, some considerable shear to the bow lines will make a 

 drier and safer boat, and a canvas bow deck will do good service. 

 Air cushions will be found very comfortable, and in mishaps they 

 are invaluable as life preservers. 



Often for miles no hard ground is to be found, and some heat- 

 ing apparatus is indispensable. No one should brave the night air 

 of the everglades without warm and stimulating food and drinks, 

 and a little quinine will do no harm. Light wines are of great ser- 

 vice, and the water flowing from the swamps will not be harmed 

 by a " wee drop," and for the rattlesnake or moccasin bite that 

 never comes, the same is needful. Prudent ones usually do not 

 wait for a bite, but show unbounded confidence in preventive 

 measures. [For additional instructions see chapter on Woodcraft, 

 hereafter.] 



Hints on Prairie Shooting. — The 1 5th of August is the opening 

 day of the season for pinnated -grouse— or " chickens," as thev are 

 usually called out v.'est, and during the remainder of that month 

 and the first two weeks of September, much larger bags can be 

 made than later in the season ; but to us there is very little pleas- 

 ure in shooting a large number of this splendid game when the 

 weather is so extremely warm, using up both the hunter and his 

 dogs, and when it is almost impossible to prevent the gam.e from 

 spoiling on our hands. Moreover, in making the trip thus early in 



