The Washington bee., 1895-09-28
Birds of the Dismal Swamp.

IT have just returned from a visit tc
the Dismal Swamp" said DR.. A. K. Fish
er, ornithologist of the Department OF
Agriculture, in Washington, the Other
day. ut is strange region, full Of oddi-
ties that are not to be found elsewhere
The purpose of my expedition was to in
vestigate the fauna of the locality, and
of rare mammals and birds 1 secured
| quite a number Snakes are abundant
and are alleged by the natives to be veno-
| nous, but all that I saw were harmless.
| When l picked up good-sized one from
a log and held him by the neck, the ne
gro who was padding for me shuddered
so that he nearly upset the boat.
II 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
| mice-rice mice, field mice, golden mice
and lemming mice. The lemming mouse
is hard to catch, because it will not take
any sort Of bait; the only way to capture
it is to set trap in its runway. l set my
traps in dry places out Of water. Among
other things | got two rare shrewS.
There are plenty of cattle in the
swamp-small, dark and very wild. They
are the progeny of animals that have
strayed from domesticated herds. Hunt
ers stalk and shoot them like deer. Bears
are numerous. In the autumn they feed
greedily on the fruit Of the sour gum
Wildcats, opoSSums and raccoons are not
scarce, while squirrels are remarkably
abundant. The squirrels have discovered
an easy way to get a living by going
along the shores of Lake Drummond and
picking up the nuts and berries which
have fallen into the water and drfted IN
Windrows. They trot along the logs and
fish them out with their paws. Deer are
common, but hard to get. In the fall
hunters run them into the lake and cath
them with dogs.
"There is fine fishing in Lake Drum
mond, which contains plenty of perch.
black bass, two kinds Of p:cEerel, three
species Of sunfish and other panfisn
There is no dry ground in the swamp,
and one sinks at every step to his knees
IN mud. The cane which forms b llos
all through the South is abundant To-
gether with varied underground, il is
tangled with vines that run up into the
trees. so that half a mile an hour is a
good rate of progress. One must carry a
knife to cut the vines, walking being fur
thorns catch in the clothing and hold on
ike hooks.
'The boats used in the Dismal Swamp
are all dugouts, made from cypress logs
2 feet long and very narrow. To shape
such craft properly IS a nice piece Of
york. The novice VINO steps into one of
hese boats is apt to go out on the other
de, but the native stands up and pad
lies with security. The water is darker |
han amber and exec ut to drink: it IS |
aid to be sure cure for malaria There |
re no malarial diseases in the swamp. |
'he swamp is full Of magnolias from the |
ize Of bushes to trees 60 feet high.
when l was there they were full of
lowers The cypress trees are cut for
hingles. The best trees for the purpose
re those which fell from % to so YEAR.
go. and are now covered with moss
he negroes wade in and Ct. IF the moss
nd rotten bark. Then they cut up the
'g into shingles on the spot. The next
est tree is one that is newly fallen, and
he third quality is the tree that has to be
elled. d.'-Philadelphia Telegraph