very near.

A swan

it is hidden from sight until approached | feathers for various markets. Here there are spots, of skin will at any time bring a dollar. The acres in extent, covered with eggs of all appearance of a flock of these stately flavors, colors, and sizes-and in every water-fowls is that of a floating island of state of incubation, small boats make a half a mile square moving gracefully trade in collecting them for market, and along over the water, now swiftly, now as the robbed birds, with the great- almost stationary, but pouring forth a est perseverance, commence laying anew continual boisterous bird-language. In after each depredation, the egg-hunters spite of their own din, however, they reap an unfailing harvest while the sea- catch the slightest hostile sound. Should son lasts. When the squabs are hatched the sportsman crack a twig, move a bush, they make one of the most delicious or crush a shell beneath his foot, the items in the boatman's bill of fare. Sit- noisy conclave stops instantly, and, en ting round their savory supper, these masse, both their propellers and their care-free rovers quaff their drams of throats. For an instant all is silent and whiskey, smoke their pipes, sing songs, motionless-bang! then go the fowlingand tell stories of wild life, beneath the clear sky, until tired, when, with their blankets around them, they seek a soft spot upon the sand. At the dawn, the shrill cry of the eagle in pursuit of his prey awakes the egg-hunters to business. Having laid in their stock of eggs, they commence the second but no less pleasant part of their trade—this is fishing, for which this place is famous.

pieces, and perhaps one thousand of these birds, so graceful in the water but so awkward in flight, will stretch their wings, knocking each other down in their confusion, and, amid loud cries and great splashing of water, take themselves off as soon as possible, probably leaving thirty or forty of their comrades to be gathered up by the sportsmen.

HOUSTON, on Buffalo bayou, at the head of tide-water, is eighty-five miles from Galveston, and one hundred and eighty-eight from Austin. The situation of this town is not only favorable and convenient, but, when seen from certain points, quite picturesque. The summit of the gentle gentle eminence on which it is built is crowned by several

The red-fish is the desired animal to the fishermen; mullet, buffalo, cat-fish (a species of salmon), and countless numbers of less important classes of fish abound. The fisher, with a small spear, commences searching in the various water-holes in the sand for crabs for bait; then, fastening a crab to his hook, he casts it in, and in an instant some red-churches, and the slope is thickly covfish is hauled out flouncing upon the sand. Sometimes it is a closely-contested question whether the fish shall quit his element or the fisherman take a bath. Red-fish often weigh twenty-five pounds They are a very vigorous fish, and of delicious flavor, either fresh or dried and salted, which is a favorite way f curing them. About eight miles abo Red-fish bar, there is a group of islands famous for the great inducements they hold out to the sportsman-they are called the "Veintiuno," or Twentyone isles. In the winter season their little harbors are filled with small craft and the craft with sportsmen, who make a little fortune during that season by the vast numbers of geese, brant, duck, and swan, they kill here-selling their carcasses at Galveston, and curing their

ered with houses, many of which are small and simple in their construction, as in most new, interior towns of Texas. The stream which flows at the base of the hill, meanders peacefully along, flowing under a handsome bridge of a single arch, and beneath the shade of some of the trees of the forest which have been spared in clearing the land. The distant scenes are varied by ridges of high ground, which extend far away, with winding valleys between them. An extensive prairie adjoins it, and it is a place of much trade in cotton. Steamboats run to Galveston, and stage-coaches to Washington. It contains four churches, a courthouse, a number of large manufactories, and 6,000 inhabitants.

AUSTIN, the capital of Texas, is situated on the east side of Colorado river,