266 
LETTEES FEOM ALABAMA. 
LETTEE XIV. 
October 1st. 
The unliealthy season is now considered over. 
Fevers and agues are always prevalent in Sep- 
tember, probably induced by the miasmata arising 
from decaying vegetation in the equinoctial rains ; 
but they do not usually extend into this month. 
The autumn has set in, with coldish nights, but 
we have had no sign of frost as yet. With very 
few exceptions, such as the button-wood and the 
chestnut, whose leaves are withered and fallen, 
the forest-trees are still unchanged, wearing the 
green livery of summer yet. 
Deer-hunting has now commenced. The Vir- 
ginian (^Gervus Virginianus) is very abundant 
in these woodland regions, and is now in the best 
condition, the fur having put on that grizzled 
colouring which distinguishes it in winter, the 
hair becoming tubular, whitish, soft, inelastic, and 
brittle. The animal is now said to be in the 
grey,^^ as in the summer he is in the red.” 
The country is particularly favourable for hunt- 
ing ; the forests being generally open, with varied 
ground, interchanging with plantations studded 
with swamps where animals can find shelter, and 
intersected with shallow streams. The ground 
which a southern hunter best likes is that which is 
designated by the name of hammocks;” undu- 
lating hills, covered with oak, hickory, and mag- 
