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204 



AUDUBON 



It was in the month of October. The autumnal tints 

 already decorated the shores of that queen of rivers, the 

 Ohio. Every tree was hung with long and flowing fes- 

 toons of different species of vines, many leaded with 

 clustered fruits of varied brilliancy, their rich bronzed 

 carmine mingling beautifully with the yellow foliage, 

 which now predominated over the yet green leaves, re- 

 flecting more lively tints from the clear stream than ever 

 landscape painter portrayed, or poet imagined. 



The days were yet warm. The sun had assumed the 

 rich and glowing hue which at that season produces the 

 singular phenomenon called there the "Indian Summer." 

 The moon had rather passed the meridian of her grandeur. 

 We glided down the river, meeting no other ripple of the 

 water than that formed by the propulsion of our boat. 

 Leisurely we moved along, gazing all day on the grandeur 

 and beauty of the wild scenery around us. 



Now and then a large catfish rose to the surface of the 

 water, in pursuit of a shoal of fry, which, starting simul- 

 taneously from the liquid element like so many silver 

 arrows, produced a shower of light, while the pursuer 

 with open jaws seized the stragglers, and, with a splash 

 of his tail, disappeared from our view. Other fishes we 

 heard, uttering beneath our bark a rumbling noise, the 

 strange sound of which we discovered to proceed from the 

 white perch, for on casting o 'r net from the bow, we 

 caught several of that species, w'\en the noise ceased for 

 a time. 



Nature, in her varied arrangements, seems to have felt 

 a partiality towards this portion of our country. As the 

 traveller ascends or descends the Ohio, he cannot help 

 remarking that alternately, nearly the whole length of the 

 river, the margin, on one side, is bounded by lofty hills 

 and a rolling surface, while on the other, extensive plains 

 of the richest alluvial land are seen as far as the eye can 

 command the view. Islands of varied size and form 



