288 THE WILD FOWL. 



is easily approaclied by horsemen, specimens of this 

 beautiful bird can be easily obtained. 



The Blue Heron [Ardea Americana), the Shushuga 

 of the Indians, as it frequents the prairie sloughs and 

 streams, would give rare opportunity to the British 

 falconer who would carry to that paradise of falconers 

 a few trained hawks. 



This list, however incomplete, will give some idea of 

 the wild fowl in the South, and will well repay the Old 

 World sportsman who may choose to visit it. And, 

 after all, who can wish for a wilder, freer, and more 

 independent existence ? The world is all before him 

 where to choose. He wanders over the prairies or 

 through the forests— where he likes — and fishes the 

 lake or stream with no one to say him nay. Hungry, 

 he gathers his fuel, kindles a flame, and cooks his 

 venison, wherever he happens to be. Tired, he pitches 

 his camp, stakes out his horse to graze, feeds his 

 dogs, and, his pipe finished, he rolls himself in his 

 blanket and sleeps soundly. 



The naturalist or the sportsman, I repeat, would 

 be well repaid for a visit to the sunny South, in 

 health, whether he came in search of specimens or 

 sport 



It is all very well for pious, white-chokered re- 

 spectability to call naturalists and sportsmen ^ roving 

 vag;abonds.' The hunter knows that it is said enviously, 

 and that the never-satisfied shekel-collector would 



