hat purpose. I went of course in a boat, a
light skiff, such as is commonly used by the inhabitants of these parts.

"Occasionally using the paddles, I allowed myself to float some four or
live miles down the main bayou; but as the birds I was in search of did
not appear, I struck into a `branch,' and sculled myself up-stream.
This carried me through a solitary region, with marshes stretching as
far as the eye could see, covered with tall reeds. There was no
habitation, nor aught that betokened the presence of man. It was just
possible that I was the first human being who had ever found a motive
for propelling a boat through the dark waters of this solitary stream.

"As I advanced, I fell in with game; and I succeeded in bagging several,
both of the great wood-ibis and the white species. I also shot a fine
white-headed eagle (_Falco leucocephalus_), which came soaring over my
boat, unconscious of danger. But the bird which I most wanted seemed
that which could not be obtained. I wanted the scarlet ibis.

"I think I had rowed some three miles up-stream, and was about to take
in my oars and leave my boat to float back again, when I perceived that,
a little farther up, the bayou widened. Curiosity prompted me to
continue; and after pulling a few hundred strokes, I found myself at the
end of an oblong lake, a mile or so in length. It was deep, dark,
marshy around the shores, and full of alligators. I saw their ugly
forms and long serrated backs, as they floated about in all parts of it,
hungrily hunting for fish and eating one another; but all this was
nothing new, for I had witnessed similar scenes during the whole of my
excursion. What drew my attention most, was a small islet near the
middle of the lake, upon one end of which stood a row of upright forms
of a bright scarlet colour. These red creatures were the very objects I
was in search of. They might be flamingoes: I could not tell at that
distance. So much the better, if I could only succeed in getting a shot
at them; but these creatures are even more wary than the ibis; and as
the islet was low, and altogether without cover, it was not likely they
would allow me to come within range: nevertheless, I was determined to
make the attempt. I rowed up the lake, occasionally turning my head to
see if the game had taken the alarm. The sun was hot and dazzling; and
as the bright scarlet was magnified by refraction, I fancied for a long
time they were flamingo