BLUE KITE. 
5 
rocks with an oar. In this laborious manner we advanced for several hundred yards, passing a 
few tributary torrents, and at last reached the top and launched our boat on the quiet waters of 
the Everglades. 
Our earliest recollections of this famous locality were taken from engravings by artists 
whose pencils were prompted solely by the imagination. These pictures represented a gloomy 
swamp overhung with dark-leaved cypress, the roots of which were submerged in black and 
slimy water. In these sombre retreats, amid rank and noxious weeds, crawled giant alligators 
and clammy serpents, fit inhabitants of this dismal region; the silence of which was described 
as being unbroken save by the harsh cry of the heron or the hoot of an owl. 
But a far different scene met our gaze as we emerged from the canon and glided smoothly 
over the bright and sunlit waters. Directly in front lay an immense plain of saw-grass, which 
the fresh breeze caused to rise and fall in huge emerald billows. This sea of verdure was 
bounded on the west by some distant islands, while on either hand appeared rich and fertile 
hummocks covered with a thick growth of lovely trees and shrubs. Our ears were greeted with 
the familiar song of the Red-winged Black-bird, a Blue Heron sprang chattering briskly from 
the margin of the stream, and flocks of snowy plumaged Ibis rose from the grass, Anhingas and 
Cormorants darted through the clear air, while the marshes resounded with the musical pipings 
of thousands of frogs. 
We pushed onward through this picturesque scene for nearly a mile over waters teeming 
with fishes of varied hues. Then the stream narrowed, and we paused for a time before turn¬ 
ing back. While here our attention was attracted by a bird that resembled a Marsh Hawk, 
sailing low down over the grass. As it approached us we perceived that it held a round ob¬ 
ject in its talons. It drew nearer and finally settled on a magnolia bush a few rods away. Then 
I saw that it was a bird that Avas new to me; I instantly shot at it, but without effect. It rose 
and flew away, and we anxiously watched it as it hawked about the marsh after the manner of 
our common Harrier. Then it dropped upon something and returned to its former perch with 
its prey, which Avas a round object similar to the first. I once more fired, and succeeded in 
loosening a few feathers, but the bird got up leisurely and Avent in search of more game appar¬ 
ently unharmed. It soon returned again, but was shy of the bush and Avould not settle. I 
Avas obliged to shoot at it on the Aving, but unaccountably missed it a third time. Thinking no 
doubt that we were in earnest, it then flew away and did not return, although we Avaited a long 
time for it. We then turned homeward somewhat disappointed, darted down the rapids Avith 
the speed of an arroAV and reached the bottom without accident. As Ave had seen but a single 
Kite we concluded that some accident had brought it to the Everglades at that time, and that we 
should see no more of it. This hypothesis was in a measure confirmed by our visiting the lo¬ 
cality twice afterwards Avithout seeing it. 
On March 1st I entered the Everglades accompanied by Mr. Henshaw. We were in search 
of Anhingas, and as they were very shy and difficult to procure, concluded to use strategem to 
obtain a shot at them. Therefore my companion landed me in a small cypress swamp to the 
right of the main stream. Here I concealed myself beneath a tree that Avas thickly hung Avith 
long streamers of Spanish moss. Mr. H. then rowed up the river for the purpose of driving the 
Snake Birds doAvn, and as they Avere accustomed to alight on the trees in the swamp, Avould be 
within range of my gun. After a time several came down as expected, and I had killed one 
Avhen I heard the report of my companion’s gun. I was wondering what he had killed, Avhen he 
appeared Avith a very beaming countenance. 
He pushed the bow of the skiff into the reeds that grew at my feet, and in ansAver to my 
question "What have you got?” held up a haAvk that I recognized at once as the same species 
that I had vainly endeavored to obtain upon a former visit to this place. It Avas an adult male, 
and Mr. H. stated that he had seen another, Upon hearing this the Anhingas Avere forgotten, 
