146 THE PET BIRDS OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 



with their white-capped crests surging over the bar. 

 Further north yet, the snow-white sand of the heach and 

 the interminable line of verdureless &quot; dunes&quot; glisten in 

 the sun. Nearer are the wide marshes, so infested with 

 rattlesnakes that cattle cannot graze there. Here and 

 there a few clumps of scrub relieve the brownish yellow 

 of the marsh. Nearer yet is the bay, shimmering in the 

 sun. On the shore near the sea-wall, the tide is down. 

 A little gray-coated sand-piper comes tripping along the 

 beach, &quot; peeking &quot; softly to itself, as if it enjoyed the sun, 

 and perches upon a warm stone, dressing its feathers. 

 Then comes the sea-wall a monument of governmental 

 patronage, and the favorite Sabbath evening promenade 

 of Minorca s dark-eyed beauties. At its terminus, far to 

 the north, loom up the massive towers and frowning 

 battlements of Fort San Marco, the pride of the &quot; ancient 

 city.&quot; How peaceful the scene, for peaceful looking it 

 is, notwithstanding the old fort looms in the distance, 

 with racks full of great cannon-balls and field-pieces on 

 the parade in the foreground. The day was so lovely 

 that, having a few hours leisure, I thought I would go 

 and see &quot; the birds,&quot; so I called on the Colonel, who is 

 a capital sailor, and finding him disengaged, we started 

 in his skiff (ycleped by the jokers the Snorting Sea 

 horse), and sailed up the bay about a mile beyond the 

 town, passing the Old Fort and running in among the 

 bayous which intersect the wide marshes. 



Have you ever heard of the birds ? I copy a slip 

 from the St. Augustine &quot;Press&quot; which will explain the 

 matter : 



&quot; We witnessed a novel and beautiful sight a few 

 days ago at the farm of Mrs. II., situated on the Xorfch 

 river, about two miles above the city. Mrs. II., in the 



