200 ANATIDJE. 



pintail, teal, and mallard came across from the lake, on 

 the open waters of which they appeared to pass the 

 greater part of the day, and circling warily round and 

 round alighted in successive flocks, apparently finding 

 abundance of food in the stagnant weed-grown water. 



While lying in wait I have sometimes become so 

 absorbed in contemplation of the animal life around, 

 as to have forgotten what had brought me there. A 

 frequent fellow- watcher at our lagoon was a large osprey, 

 which perched motionless on the bare worn bough of 

 an overhanging tree, sat for hours peering keenly into 

 the pool below. On a sudden he would dart with 

 lightning velocity on his finny prize, and bearing it 

 aloft sail majestically away to his solitary haunts in 

 the neighbouring forest. Hundreds of tortoises, called 

 " terrapines,"* covered the decaying trunks of the floating 

 trees, sunning themselves in long rows with outstretched 

 necks, ready at the slightest alarm or movement to dis- 

 appear instantaneously under the sheltering duck- weed; 



* Terrapene clausa. These small tortoises are of uniform dark colour, 

 and lay their eggs in May and June in the hollow banks of stagnant 

 waters ; the very young ones are seldom seen. There is a larger species 

 found in the lakes (Oymnopus spiniferus), which may be caught with a 

 hook haited with a bit of fish ; their flesh is very delicate. The eggs of 

 this species, fifty or sixty in number, are found in nooks of rocks and in 

 dead trees. It is not nearly so common as the Terrapine, which may be 

 seen almost anywhere. Terrapine soup is much esteemed in the States, 

 though it resembles anything rather than turtle. 



