242 IN LOWER FLORIDA WILDS 



their jaws together it causes a surprising noise, 

 like that which is made by forcing a heavy plank 

 with violence upon the ground, and may be heard 

 at a great distance. 



"But what is yet more surprising to a stranger 

 is the incredibly loud and terrifying roar which 

 they are capable of making, especially in the spring 

 season, their mating time. It most resembles 

 very heavy, distant thunder, not only shaking the 

 air and water, but causing the earth to tremble; 

 and when hundreds and thousands are roaring at 

 the same time, you can scarcely be persuaded but 

 that the whole globe is violently and dangerously 

 agitated. 



"An old champion, who is perhaps absolute 

 sovereign of a little lake or lagoon (where fifty less 

 than himself are obliged to content themselves 

 with swelling and roaring in little coves round 

 about) darts forth from the reedy coverts all at 

 once, on the surface of the waters, in a right line; 

 at first seemingly as rapid as lightning, but grad- 

 ually more slowly until he arrives at the center of 

 the lake, when he stops. He now swells himself 

 by drawing in wind and water through his mouth, 

 which causes aloud, sonorous rattling in the throat 



