Snake 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. ' Wliat business 

 liave 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 

 Avind itself around his body, he walked home in 

 triumph. * =i^ * j .^j^^ somewhat indifferent 

 Avith 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- 

 eluded to devote an hour or two in writing to you — 

 a brother ornithologist. Indeed, when I heard, 

 Avhilst in Columbia, that a letter from you had 

 arrived, I felt desirous of hastening my return. 



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

 Everything has gone on well with me — except that 

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

 €old 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 Avith my professional duties. Hares 

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



