J^otices of the Floridas, ^c. 131 



bread, the root is beat in water, dried, and pulverized. The 

 root of the Indian potatoe, a native plant, has an agreeable 

 taste and is much used by the Indians. 



Tigers, supposed to be a variety of the northern panther 

 frequent the extensive thickets of Florida ; they are large 

 and ferocious. Wolves are often seen — the Indians destroy 

 many of them by poisoned meat, which is drawn a conside- 

 rable distance and attracts all that encounter the trail. 

 Bears, wild-cats, foxes, pole-cats, raccoons, rabbits, and 

 squirrels are common. Deer are numerous on the conti- 

 nent and islands, the pines and prairies afford them fine gra- 

 zing, and the thickets shelter. 



The birds most frequently seen are wild turkeys, geese, 

 ducks, owls, cranes, herons, hawks, crows, black birds, rice- 

 birds, robins, mocking-birds, woodpeckers, turkey-buz- 

 zards, and Spanish whip-poor-will. The most trouble- 

 some insects are moschetoes, fleas, chicers, and ticks. 

 Below the 28th degree of latitude they are active through 

 the year, and in the northern part of Florida, from April to 

 December. Scorpions are sometimes seen. 



Rattlesnakes are numerous in Florida, and not unfre- 

 quently six feet in length, sometimes eight and nine, and in 

 one instance twelve. From the warmth of the climate, ren- 

 dering the poison very active, from the size of the serpent 

 and deep wound inflicted by its large fangs, the bite is 

 generally fatal, though of rare occurrence. Of this rep- 

 tile, three descriptions are remarked in Florida ; the com- 

 mon rattlesnake with a checkered back ; a snake black or 

 dark brown on the back, a whitish yellow belly with spots 

 near the tail ; and the ground rattlesnake, about a foot in 

 length. Mocasins are common in the fresh waters. Black 

 and chicken snakes are often seen. 



Alligators are numerous in all the lakes and considera- 

 ble streams of the interior ; their loud and heavy roar sound- 

 ing like distant thunder, or a lion's growl, is most frequent- 

 ly heard at night, or during a warm rain ; they travel on 

 shore from one body of water to another, often a considera- 

 ble distance ; they rarely attack the human race — dogs are 

 their favorite prey. 



Fish are abundant in the salt and fresh waters of Florida. 

 Among the best and most frequently caught, are sheeps- 

 head in salt water ; and in fresh near Lake George, trout, 



