Availability of food also has an important influence upon activity. Allen and Swindell (_op. cit._:5) stated that moccasins congregate around drying ponds and feed on dying fish until the moccasins can hold no more. They then usually stay nearby as long as food remains. In an area of the Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest near Nacogdoches, Texas, many cottonmouths journey daily to and from a swamp and a dry field, evidently to feed on rodents inhabiting the area. Ten individuals captured along a snake-proof fence that was built 30 yards from the swamp were found lying coiled along the fence after 4:30 p.m., at which time the area was shaded. On another occasion, I captured a large cottonmouth that was feeding upon dying fish in a drying pool about 10:30 a.m. on August 19, 1962. Because of the aquatic habits of the cottonmouth, relative humidity probably has little influence on the snake's activity. However, cottonmouths are more restricted to the vicinity of water in dry weather than during rains or muggy weather when many of their natural prey species also move about more freely. Increased activity on cloudy days may result from protection from long exposure to sunshine. Torrential rains and floods, such as those following hurricanes along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the southeastern United States, bring out quantities of snakes of all species. Rattlesnakes and cottonmouths in particular are killed by the thousands at these times because they seek shelter in human habitations. However, these are unusual circumstances and do not reflect voluntary activity as a result of preferences.