DWELLERS AMIDST THE DUNES. 223 



above the crest of hill or ridge. One may rest 

 in its shade and not realize that he is sheltered 

 by the upper limbs of a large tree, whose trunk 

 and main branches lie far beneath him, em- 

 bedded in the sands. 



But few forms of animal life dwell among 

 these dunes. Vegetation is not plentiful enough 

 to furnish sustenance. The twitter and chirp 

 of bird is seldom heard. A lizard, scampering 

 rapidly along, will sometimes be seen, but even 

 they are scarce. In fthe yielding sands the 

 striped gopher burrows its home with ease, and 

 on their bared surface the spreading viper basks. 

 Insect life is less abundant than in any area of 

 equal size in the State. The tiger beetles and 

 "doodle-bugs" alone are common, since they find 

 here a habitat well suited to their tastes. 



Only to the botanist and to him who seeks 

 solitude, has this region charms.. Here the 

 hermit has his hut ; and the lone fisherman his 

 camp. Back, away from the sound of the break- 

 ing waves, a peaceful quiet pervades. There 

 may one sit and literally watch the growing of 

 the hills. There will he come to realize, as 



