66- AUDUBON THE NATURALIST 
larity of its attributes, with the most singula. 
among specimens of American ornithology, is 
the umbrella bird mentioned by Wallace.* “In 
size equal to the raven, it is also of a glossy 
black. The male in particular has a singular 
crest on its head, formed of feathers two inches 
long, thickly set with hairy plumes, curving 
over at the end. These can be erected and 
spread out on every side, forming a hemispher- 
ical dome, completely covering the head, and 
beyond the point of the beak.” 
But linked with the Mississippi are associa- 
tions of very different interest. Contrasted, 
with the poetic charm of beauty or melody in 
birds and flowers is many a tradition dark with 
crime. One of these it is which has handed 
down the name of Mason as the terror of peace- 
ful navigators on the Mississippi and Ohio. On 
Wolf Island, not far from the confluence of 
these rivers, this pirate had his settlement, and 
leagued with a band of associates who spread 
from Virginia to New Orleans. Issuing from 
kis ambush on every propitious opportunity, 
passing boats were waylaid, to be rifled of their 
wargoes, or perhaps deprived of their crews, who 
mysteriously disappeared. Horses and negroes, 
the principal traffic of the gang, were, besides 
“Travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro. 
