20 BIRD S-EYE GLANCE AT FLORIDA. 



large expanse of water, about ten miles in diameter. 

 At the southern extremity the river suddenly narrows, 

 so that it is but a few rods across. Here the scenery 

 changes entirely. The stately live-oaks and pines of the 

 more northern St. Johns give place to the tropical-look 

 ing palmetto and the gracef ul-foliaged sweet bay. Vege 

 tation is also much more advanced, and as the steamer 

 almost brushed against the luxuriant foliage, we could 

 catch the odors of thousands of flowering shrubs grow 

 ing in the dense forest which lay on either side. It was 

 indeed a scene of surpassing loveliness, to which I can 

 scarcely do justice. One must stand, as I stood that 

 morning, with every sense rapt in profound admiration 

 of the beautiful panorama that was passing before the 

 eyes, and with the south wind, laden with those delight 

 ful odors, blowing gently across the face, to thoroughly 

 appreciate it. For every turn of the now winding river 

 disclosed new beauties for enjoyment. 



At first the brain is confused with the multiplicity 

 of objects that are presented to the gaze. Gradually, 

 however, the eye becomes accustomed to the mass of 

 green, and selects objects of greater interest from the 

 whole. From the exuberant growth of creepers and 

 shrubs which line the water s edge, the attention is 

 drawn to the gray, straight trunks of the palmettos, 

 with their stiff fan-like fronds. The dark green of 

 these is relieved by the paler foliage of the sweet gum, 

 while high over all hang the giant branches of the lofty 

 black walnuts drooped with festoons of Spanish moss. 

 Large bunches of the emblematic mistletoe are brought 

 out in strong relief against the blue sky, with their 

 bright green colors heightened by their more sombre 

 surroundings. An occasional group of the gloomy 



