Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-30
CHASED BY A BLUE HERON.
A Curious Adventure in q Florida
SwRmp-The Hunter Hunted.
from the COOI

from the Cook.
or all the native birds in Florida none is
more interesting than the heron tribes.
The king of all these tribes Is the great
blue heron. 1t grows to an extraordinary
size. Capt. Dummitt, who planted the
most noted orange grove in the State,
killed one on a bayou near Mosquito
lagoon fifteen years ago which measured
nine feet seven inches from the point OF
its bill to the tips Of its toes. The coast
wise bayous and lagO1ns are usually
dotted with small mangrove islands. In
South Florida the mangrove grows to a
height of 90 and so feet, but north of
Cape Canaveral il is a gnarled bush
from 10 to Is feet high. The bushes cover
the little islands as hair covers
mans scalp. The islands are veritable
thickets, and woe betide the man who is
lost IN them, for they are infested with
sandfies, redbugs, mosquitoes and scor-
pions. Greeks intense in crookedness and
Of uneven tide wind among these islands
ike the paths of labyrinth. These soli-
tary creeks are the favorite fishing
grounds of the great blue heron. Some OF
the happiest days OF my life have been
spent in hunting the bird in these haunts
Seated in the bow of Canadian canoe,
with my gun on my knees and guide in
the stern. | was nOiselessly pOlled over
the winding creeks beneath the arching
mangroves. At sharp turns there was
frequently a scream OF alright. Huge
wings were untOlded. The great bird
waited itself into the air, and was
brought to earth by shot well aimed.
1t was dangerous sport, however, for q
stranger. Even the best Of guides
are sometimes lost in the green labyrinth
and suffer untold fortunes. Impractical
hunters are apt 10 lose their eyes; for the
beak OF the great blue heron Is a ssharp as
needle, and his long neck masks immense
sweep and great power. The bird strikes
with marvellous precision and with the
rapidity OF lightning. When wounded it
is especially dangerous. / was once
struck on the cheek within half an inch
Of the eve. The blow was made by a Grip
pied snowy heron on an island In Lake
Worth. IL was just after twilight. The
darkness saved my eye. / was in a
thicket looking for birds that had shot
while on the wing. j saw a snowy spot
In the undistinguishabl foliage, and took
il for a dead bird. As | STOPPED TO pick
it up my cheek was pierced as though re-
ceiving a thrust from stilletto.
In the spring Of 1875 1 was encamped
in the heart OF Turnbull swamp, about
eight miles from the head Of Indian river.
The weather was very dry. and there was
much less water in the swamp than usual.
was hunting parOquets, wild turkeys,
wood ducks, deer, bears, wild cats and
pumas. The swamp Is streaked with sa-
Vannas 100 yards wide and miles In ex-
tent. Deer becoming scarce in my vicln-
itv, | set a savanna on tire one morning
while on a turkey hunt. After the burn
ing OF the dead GRASP the new crop
wonld serve TO bait the deer within
a fortnight. At sunset was
miles away from camp. Al dusk
/ saw several gobblers fly into a grove Of
tail Expresses, aud marked them with the
intention OF returning in the morning at
daylight and shooting them from the trees.
The Redeemed sky gave me bearings on
my way back TO camp. After wading
listening 10 the dOeiul music Of a death
owl, emerged upon the burning sayan-
ma. The sky was overcast. 10 was as
dark as Erebus. brisk south wind
was driving the fire nOrthward. The
flames were ieaping over the iall, dry
grass, and tingeing the clouds and the
tons OF the expresses an orange hue.
Suddenly / saw In the lurid light far
above me four great blue herons. They
were In line, Mapping their wings with
the precision ~ machinery. Instinetiyeiy
drew my gun 70 my shoulder. On In
spirafiOn discharged IA, for the "sight"
was invisible. Tue second barrel did
good work. the third heron IN the line
stopped, tell 10 feef, and came swOOping
toward the ground 10 great circles. ! saw
that the bird would drop some distance
away. ADD ran forward - MARI mo spot.
But the DuFot part o. ihe savanna, dea-