BIRD S-EYE GLANCE AT FLORIDA. 21 



cypress might be seen among this sea &quot;of living green, 

 raising their dark trunks covered with leafless branches 

 from the swampy ground. As we passed onward our 

 attention was attracted by numerous orange groves, 

 which were growing upon shell mounds, with the golden 

 fruit relieved by the dark green and shining leaves. 

 This scene was rendered intensely interesting by the 

 multitude of birds which swarmed on all sides. Numer 

 ous ducks and gallinules swam among the aquatic plants 

 on the river s margin. At one point we saw a group of 

 red and black-headed vultures feeding upon the carcass 

 of some animal. Large numbers of wood ducks started 

 up everywhere, flying but a short distance, then tamely 

 settling down again. Among all this apparently peace 

 ful life the great law of nature, which ordains that her 

 subjects shall live by preying upon one another, was in 

 full force. At every few rods along the river was 

 perched a hawk. They sat silent and apathetic, but 

 were only waiting for the coots and ducks to finish their 

 morning meal of aquatic life before seizing the plumpest 

 of them for breakfast. High overhead the osprey was 

 sailing with motionless wings, in huge circles, gazing 

 with eager eyes upon the fishes below. The ever-watch 

 ful bald eagle was perched upon the lofty black walnuts 

 or cypresses, intent upon the motions of the fish-hawk. 

 This magnificent scenery, in which is mingled so much 

 of life and animation, must attract the attention and 

 call forth the admiration of the most casual observer. 

 What, then, must be the sensations of the earnest stu 

 dent of nature ? Words fail to express the intense 

 ecstasy that he feels as object after object presents itself 

 to his bewildered gaze. The brain is completely over 

 whelmed, and can simply grasp the mingled mass as it 



