80 SPORT I>T NORTH AMERICA. 



gave themselves up to the full enjoyment of their 

 banquet. 



After two clays' rest at St. Genevieve, I and my 

 friend determined to return home. Crossing the 

 Mississippi, we soon found ourselves on the road 

 which leads across the mountains to the banks of 

 the Wabash ; but before reaching the hilly country, 

 we encountered prairies covered with water, which 

 had to be traversed. Our moccasins, being made 

 of skins, became very slippery, and were very 

 difficult to walk in. In spite of this, however, during 

 the first day we made about ten leagues, preceded 

 by a herd of deer, which were visible miles off, by 

 the constant movement of their white tails. These 

 prairies, which, at the time Ave visited them, were 

 quite barren, are like a flower-garden in spring, full 

 of odours, and dehghtful to the sight. Clouds of 

 butterflies of the most brilliant colours dispute the 

 flowery banquet with the humming-birds ; but alas ! 

 every medal has its reverse : the mosquitos are 

 innumerable and render this Eden uninhabitable. 

 The mosquitos of the prairie will attack a deer, 

 or a bison, and kill it with the most cruel torture. 

 It is a remarkable thing, that man is never troubled 

 by this annoying insect excepting when he is asleep, 

 and it is only when the heat is extreme that they fly 

 above the level of the marsh. The deer, in order 

 to avoid them, plunge into the water and remain 

 there, with only their noses in the air. 



