black trunks of the
cypresses rose branchless for nearly an hundred feet, and from their
spreading limbs drooped the grey weeping moss. Huge "knees" could be
distinguished shooting up like cones or trees that had been broken off
leaving their broken trunks in the ground. Sometimes a huge creeper, a
foot or more in diameter, stretched across these gloomy aisles, as
though a monster serpent were passing from tree to tree.

The lake was alive with alligators. These could be seen basking along
the low banks, or crawling away into the dark and shadowy swamp. Some
were floating gently on the surface of the stream, their long crests and
notched backs protruding above the water. When not in motion these
hideous creatures resembled dead logs of wood; and most of them were
lying quiet--partly from their natural disinclination to move about, and
partly waiting for their prey. Those that basked upon the banks held
their jaws expanded, that at intervals were heard to close with a loud
snap. These were amusing themselves by catching the flies, that,
attracted by the musky odour, flew around their hideous jaws, and lit
upon their slimy tongues. Some were fishing in the stream, and at
intervals the stroke of their tails upon the water could be heard at the
distance of half a mile or more. Their croaking resounded through the
woods somewhat like the noise made by bull-frogs, but loud and terrible
as the bellowing of bulls. A horrid appearance they presented; but our
hunters were accustomed to the sight, and had no fear of these animals.

There were other objects around the lake more pleasing to contemplate.
On a distant point stood a troop of flamingoes, drawn up in order like a
company of soldiers, their scarlet plumage shining in the sun. Near
them was a flock of whooping-cranes--each as tall as a full-grown man--
at intervals uttering their loud trumpet notes. The great egret, too,
was there, with its snowy plumage and orange bill; the delicately-formed
Louisiana heron, with droves of sand-hill cranes, appearing in the
distance like flocks of white sheep.

Pelicans, with their pouched throats and scythe-like bills, stood in
melancholy attitudes, and beside them were the white and scarlet ibis,
and the purple gallinule. Roseate spoonbills waded through the
shallows, striking their odd-shaped beaks at the crabs and cray-fish;
and upon projecting limbs of trees perched the black darter, his long
snake-like neck stretched