CHAP. XXXI.] BONY PIKE. 187 



tree, and holly, and a variety of beautiful shrubs are 

 seen. The surface of the lake (except near the shore, 

 where it is covered with the water lily) faithfully re 

 flects the trees and sky, presenting, in this respect, 

 a marked contrast to the yellow waters of the Mis 

 sissippi. It is inhabited by hundreds of alligators and 

 countless fish, and so many birds were swimming on 

 it, or flying over it, that it seemed as if all the wild 

 creatures which the steamers had scared away from 

 the main river had taken refuge here. Several alli 

 gators were lying motionless, with their noses just 

 above the surface of the water, resembling black logs. 

 About fourteen years ago, some of them were not 

 unfrequently seen here measuring fifteen feet in 

 length, but they now rarely exceed eight feet. I 

 observed a large gar-fish, or bony pike, called the 

 alligator gar (Lepidosteus\ leap nearly out of the 

 water in pursuit of its prey. Its hard shining scales 

 are so strong and difficult to pierce, that it can 

 scarcely be shot. It can live longer out of water than 

 any other fish of this country, having a large cellular 

 swimming bladder, which is said almost to serve the 

 purpose of a real lung. One of them has been known 

 to seize the nostrils of a mule who was drinking, and 

 only to be shaken off on dry ground, when its whole 

 body had been dragged into the air. 



On the boughs of the willows were perched seve 

 ral white cranes, while herons, cormorants, and water- 

 rails were swimming on the lake, their various notes 

 adding to the wildness of the scene. Shriller than 

 all, as the evening came on, we heard the voice of 

 the large bull-frog. 



