
oS SP 
our 
404 RAMBLES IN FLORIDA. 
always capturing some. Upon one occasion, in addition to 
several Glandinas, two specimens of a beautiful lizard re- 
warded our search. 
We had heard at sundry times marvellous stories of num- 
berless snakes of divers species, and of assorted sizes, that 
lay in wait to swallow, crush or poison unsophisticated 
strangers. These fearful tales led us to keep a sharp look- 
out when on the tramp. Either the snakes snuffed danger 
from afar and "hunted their holes," or else they are scarce, 
as we failed to secure a specimen, though two or three were 
seen. We concluded that our informants had in some way 
deceived their eyes by using the fusil oil which hereabouts 
is sold for whiskey, one dram of which would cause the 
drinker to see not only snakes but an entire menagerie. 
From the time when the serpent made mischief for the 
human race through the beguilement of its original mother, 
down to the present day, the snake family have had a bad 
reputation, and stories illustrating their wickedness, how- 
ever preposterous, are readily believed. 
Near the town, and in the immediate vicinity of the spot 
where Glandinas “most do congregate," stands an ancient 
mound, in shape a flattened hemisphere, with the plane 
side down. Its position is such as to furnish a delightful 
out-look upon the bay and a fine view of the surrounding 
scenery. It is not of large size, being only one hundred and 
sixty paces in cireumference and fifteen feet high; it was 
formerly more nearly semicircular in perpendicular outline, 
as the rains of centuries have washed it off at the summit, 
thus reducing the elevation, and consequently increasing the 
circumference of the base. 
The mound was covered with grass, and many stately 
trees are near it whose graceful proportions form, by con- 
trast with the general flatness of the ground, a conspicuous 
and charming feature.in the landscape. From the investi- 
gations made by our party it was undoubtedly devoted to 
burial purposes, and but few shells were used in its con- 



