162 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



dryest sand-bar you may see insects of the most brilliant tints. 

 Our principal object, however, was to procure certain birds 

 known there by the name o f lawyers ; and to accomplish this we 

 entered and followed for several miles a winding inlet or bayoii, 

 which led us to the interior of a vast marsh, where, after some 

 search, we found the birds and their nests. Our seine had been 

 placed across the channel, and when we returned to it the tide 

 had run out and left in it a number of fine fishes, some of 

 which we cooked and ate on the spot. One, which I con- 

 sidered as a curiosity, was saved and transmitted to Baron 

 Ouvier. Our repast ended, the seine was spread out to dry, 

 and we again betook ourselves to the marshes, to pursue our 

 researches until the return of the tide. Having collected 

 enough to satisfy us, we took up our oars and returned to the 

 shore in front of the iisherman's hpujse, where we dragged the 

 seine several times with success. 



" In this manner I passed several weeks along those delight- 

 ful and healthy shores — one day going to the woods to search the 

 swamps in which the herons bred, passing another amid the joyous 

 cries of the marsh hens, and on a third carrying slaughter among 

 the white-breasted seagulls ; by way of amusement sometimes 

 hauling the fish called the ' sheep's-head ' from an eddy along 

 the shore ; watching the gay terns as they danced in the air, or 

 plunged into the water to seize the tiny fry. Many a drawing I 

 made at Egg Harbour, and many a pleasant day I spent along 

 its shores ; and much pleasure would it give me once more to 

 visit the good and happy family (Captain Horam's) in whose 

 house I resided there. 



" September 1. Having accomplished my purpose in visiting 

 the sea-shore of New Jersey, I returned to Philadelphia, and 

 made preparations to go to the G-reat Pine Swamp, in North- 

 umberland County, Pennsylvania. 



"The Great Pine Swamp. 



"I left Philadelphia at four of the morning by the coach, 

 with no other accoutrements than I knew to be absolutely 

 necessary for the jaunt which I intended to make. These 

 consisted of a wooden box, containing a small stock of linen, 

 drawing-paper, my journal, colours and pencils, together with 



