410 BREAKING UP OF THE ICE.
water had suddenly risen from an overflow of the Ohio, the two streams
seemed to rush against each other with violence, in consequence of which
the congealed mass was broken into large fragments, some of which rose
nearly erect here and there, and again fell with thundering crash, as the
wounded whale, when in the agonies of death, springs up with furious
force, and again plunges into the foaming waters. To our surprise, the
weather, which in the evening had been calm and'frosty, had become wet
and blowy. The water gushed from the fissures formed in the ice, and
the prospect was extremely dismal. When day dawned, a spectacle
strange and fearful presented itself: the whole mass of water was violently
agitated, its covering was broken into small fragments, and although
not a foot of space was without ice, not a step could the most daring have
ventured to make upon it. Our boat was in imminent danger, for the trees
which had been placed to guard it from the ice were cut or broken into
pieces, and were thrust against her. It was impossible to move her; but
our pilot ordered every man to bring down great bunches of cane, which
were lashed along her sides; and before these were destroyed by the ice,
she was afloat and riding above it. While we were gazing on the scene,
a tremendous crash was heard, which seemed to have taken place about
a mile below, when suddenly the great dam of ice gave way. The current
of the Mississippi had forced its way against that of the Ohio ; and
in less than four hours, we witnessed the complete breaking up of the ice.
During that winter, the ice was so thick on the Mississippi, that opposite
St Louis, horses and heavy waggons crossed the river. Many
boats had been detained in the same manner as our own, so that provisions
and other necessary articles had become very scarce, and sold at a
high price. This happened about twenty-eight years ago.
( 411 )
THE REDDISH EGRET.
ARDEA RUFESCENS, GMEL.
PLATE COLVI. ADULT AND YOUNG.
WHILE sailing towards the Florida Keys, my mind was agitated with
anticipations of the delight I should experience in exploring a region
whose productions were very imperfectly known. Often did I think of
the Heron named after TITIAN PEALE, by my learned friend the Prince
of Musignano. Mr PEALE had procured only a single specimen, and in
the winter season, but whether or not the species was abundant on the
Keys of Florida remained to be discovered. No sooner had I been landed
and formed an acquaintance with Mr EGAN, the pilot of whom I have
often spoken, who was well acquainted with the haunts of many of the
birds of those islands, than I asked him respecting the various Herons
which might be found there or on the shores of the mainland. Before answering
me, he counted his fingers slowly, and then said that he could
recollect only " twelve sorts " but,11 added he, " these birds change
their colours so curiously, that it is past wonder with me to believe that
any one man could know them without watching them as I have done for
many years.11 I then inquired if I was in good time to procure all the
sorts which he knew. He answered in the affirmative; but felt some
doubt as to my procuring the eggs of one kind at least, which breed
earlier than the rest, and was" pure white from the shell, and the largest
of all. Thinking the species to which he alluded might be the Ardea
alba of LINNJEUS, I asked if it had long thread-like feathers over the tail
during the breeding season. " Oh no, Sir,11 said he, " it never has; it is
as tall as yourself, and when you see some on the wing, you will be pleased,
for their wings are as large as those of the Brown Pelican. The one I guess
you mean, mostly goes farther to the eastward to breed, along with a very
small one, also always white, with the feathers over the tail as you say,
and curled upwards. These are the only three sorts that are white.11
I begged him to describe the colours of the others, which he did so well
that I recognised ten species in all; but the large white one, and another
of a grey and purple colour, were unknown to me, and I told him so,
stating at the same time how anxious I was to procure them if possible.