midnight
At that time the inhabitants of the woods seemed to awaken to active life as suddenly as day succeeds the night , and night the day , in those Southern latitudes . The deep-sounding whoops of the sand-hill cranes -- the cries of herons , bitterns , and ibis -- the gobbles of turkeys -- the confused quacking of flocks of ducks -- the chattering of pelicans -- the melodious voices of thousands of song-birds -- the hum of millions of insects , -- all combined to create a volume of sound which effectually banished sleep . As the sun rose above the summits of the trees , the various sounds gradually decreased , and during the heat of mid-day all seemed hushed in the stillness of death . As evening approached , once more the feathered songsters suddenly burst forth ; then for a short time there would be silence ; when again , towards midnight , the hootings and shrieks of numerous night-birds , and the more savage cries and hideous voices of alligators , wolves , and ocelots , would break our slumbers . One evening we were nearly losing our black attendant , who not only had proved himself an intelligent guide , but was ready to serve us in every way he could . We had just encamped , when a short distance off an enormous eagle rose from a stunted tree on the borders of a neighbouring hummock . Lejoillie was anxious to obtain its eggs , or one of the young birds should they be hatched ; and Jup immediately volunteered to climb up and procure one or the other .