The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1895-09-27
FOUND m THE DISMAL SWAMI.


biologist well Rewarded.
II have returned from visit to the
Dismal swamp" said DR.. A. K. Fisher,
ornithologist of the department of asrl-
culture 'It is strange region, full OF
oddities that are not to be found else
where The purpose of my expedition
was to investigate the fauna of the To-
cality, and of rare mammals and birds
secured quite number. Snakes are
abundant and are alleged by the ma
tiyes to be venomous, but all that saw
were harmless. When | picked up
good sized one from log and held him
by the neck, the negro who was padding
, for ME shualdered SO that he nearly up
| set the boat.
IT found about so species OF birds
| breeding in the swamp. One OF them
was Swainson's warbler. which is very
rare l trapped several species OF small
| hiiee---rice mice, field mice, golden
mice and lemming mice. The lenming
mouse is hard 60 catch, because 1t VIII
not take any sort of bait. The only way
to capture it is to set trap III It's run
way. l set my traps in dry places out OF
| water. Among other things | cot two
| rare shrews.
"There are plenty of cattle in the
swamp-smali, dark and very wild.
They are the progeny Of animals that
have strayed from domesticated herds.
Hunters stalk and shoot them like deer.
Bears are numerous. In the autumn
they feed greedily on the fruit CT the
sour gum. Wildcats, opossums and rae
coons are not scarce, while squirrels arc
remarkably abundant. The squirrels
have discovered an easy way 70 get
living by going along the shores Of Lake
Drum1nond and picking up the nuts anc
berries which have fallen into tho water
I'nnd drifted III windows. They tro
along the logs and fish them ont witt
tho.r paws. Deer are common, bat hare
TO ret. In the fall hunters run then
into the lake aud c. ch them with dogs
"Ihcro is fno fishing i'll Lake Drum
mond, which contains plcnty OF perch
black bass, two lsinds of pickercl. three
spec cs OF sunfsli and other parrish
There is 10 dry ground i'll the scamp
and one sinks at every step to his knee
in mud. The cane which forms brake
all through the south is abundant. 10
gether with varied underground, it
tarrled with vines that run up into tn
trees. so that half mile an hour is
good rate Of progress. One must carr
a lnife to cut the vines, walking betn
further impeded by the cat brlef, who's
thorns catch in the clothing and hold o
: like hooks.
1.-THE boats used in the Dismal swan
are all dugouts, made from cypress loE'
: 10 feet long and very narrow. To ahai
:. such craft properly is nice piece {
/, work. The novice who steps into one
these boats is apt to go out on the o;-''
II side, but he native stands up and r.
dies with security. The water is darkt
u than amber and excellent to drink. 1t
II said to be sure cure for malaria
u There are no malarial diseases III Il
swamp. The swamp is full OF masnoll;
u from Tic sizs of bushes to trees 20 lc
~ high. Nicu | was there, they were IL
of fov ers The cypress trees are cut I
II shingles Tie best trees for the purpo
are these which fell from 20 to 30 yea
ago AID arc now covered with mos
,, The regrces wade in and cut Oil t
u moss aid rotten bark Then they c
= up Tie log into shingles ON the spl
y, The seat best tree is enc that IS new
- fallen, and tie third quality IS the II
u that has to 10 felled ''-WashAngt'
Star