Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-02-07
FOUND IN THE DISMAL SWAMP.
The Investigations Of a Government orni'
biologist Well Rewarded.

The Investigations of a Government Orni-
biologist Well Rewarded.
II have returned from a visit to tho
Dismal swamp" said DR.. A. X. Fisher,
ornithologist Of the department Of agri-
culture. 1T 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 a number. Snakes are
abundant and are alleged by tho ma
tives to be venomous, but all that l saw
were harmless. When l picked up q
good sized one from log and held him
by the neck, the negro who was padding
for me shuddered SO that he nearly up
set the boat.
81 found about so species of birds
breeding in the swamp One Of them
was Swanson S warbler, which is very
rare. 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 a trap in its run
way l set my traps in dry places out OF
water Among other things 1 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
Hunters 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 rae
coons 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 drifted in windows. 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 catch them with dogs.
"There is fine fishing in Lake Drum
mond, which contains plenty Of perch,
black bass, two kinds Of pickerel, three
species of sunfish and other parrish.
There is no dry ground in tho swamp,
and one sinks at every step to his knees
in mud The cano which forms brakes
all through the south is abundant. To-
gether with varied underground, it is
tangled with vines that run up into tho
trees, so that half a mile an hour is o
good rate Of progress. One must carry
q knife to cut the vines. walking being |
further impeded by the cat brier. whose
thorns catch in the clothing and hold on |
like hooks.
1.-THE boats used in the Dismal swamp
are all dugouts, made from cypress logs,
12 feet long and very narrow. To shape |
such craft properly is nice piece Of
work The novice who steps into one Of
these boats is apt 70 go out on the other
side, but the native stands up and pad
dies with security. The water Is darker
than amber and excellent to drink. II is
said to be a sure cure for malaria
There are no malarial diseases in the
swamp. The swamp is full Of magnolias
from the size Of bushes TO trees 60 feet
high. When was there, they were full
IF flowers. The cypress trees are cut for
The best trees for the purpose
are those which fell from rs to 90 years
sgo and are now covered with moss.
The negroes wade in and cut of the
moss and rotten bark. Then they cut
mp the log into shingles on the spot.
The next best tree is one that is newly
ALLEN, and the third quality is the tree
hat has to be felled. "-Washington
Star.