tfnake Stories. 99 



" He gives another snake story a snake ten feet 

 long. Waterton was alone. He seized him by the 

 tail, the snake turned round and came after him 

 with open mouth, seeming to say, ' What business 

 have you to meddle with my tail.' In this emer- 

 gency, he put his fist in his hat, and rammed it 

 down the snake's throat. Suffering the snake to 

 wind itself around his body, he walked home in 

 triumph. * I am somewhat indifferent 



with regard to Mr. Waterton and his marvelous 

 book ; but it is well for the public to know who this 

 -champion of truth is, that comes to accuse the 

 American Ornithologist of exaggeration." 



TO AUDUBON AT St. Augustine, Florida. 



CHARLESTON, Dec. 23rd, 1831. 



My dear Audubon : I returned from the country 

 last evening, and concluded to devote this day to 

 rest and amusement, and leave letter-writing and 

 serious studies to another time, but my good wife, 

 and sister Maria, beg me to answer you immediately, 

 and as this accords with my inclination, I have con- 

 cluded to devote an hour or two in writing to you 

 a brother ornithologist. Indeed, when I heard, 

 whilst in Columbia, that a letter from you had 

 arrived, I felt desirous of hastening my return. 



My tour of duty, (Sy nodical), this year, is over. 

 Everything has gone on well with me except that 

 we lost a fine horse on the last journey ; and the 

 cold killed my wild turkeys. Indeed, it has been 

 almost insupportably cold. I had not time to carry 

 a gun, and on the whole, would not have had much 

 use for it, as the birds were scarce, and it would 

 have interfered with my professional duties. Hares 

 were rather abundant. I saw a " Red Tailed," and a 



