38 Travels in a Tree-top 



abundant, and faint footprints showed that 

 it was not overlooked by the pretty teetering 

 sand-piper. , 



Now came a total change. Abruptly turn- 

 ing from its former straightforward course, 

 the brook entered a low-lying swamp, 

 crowded to the utmost with dense growths 

 of tangled vines and stunted trees. The 

 water was no longer sparkling and colorless, 

 but amber-tinted, and in many a shallow pool 

 looked more like ink. Life here appeared 

 in many forms. Small mud-minnows, turtles, 

 and snakes were found in the gloomy, weed- 

 hidden pools, and numberless insefts crowded 

 the rank growths above as well as the waters 

 beneath. The mutual dependence of vege- 

 tation and animal life was here very striking. 

 Previously we had found comparatively little 

 either in the brook or about it, but now our 

 eyes were gladdened not only with what I 

 have mentioned, but birds, too, were in abun- 

 dance. 



Bent upon freeing my native county from 

 the charge of stupidity, I led the way through 

 this " dismal swamp." It was no easy task. 

 Nowhere were we sure of our footing, and 

 it required constant leaping from root to root 



