BEAUTIFUL SALT LAKE. 219 



hyacinth blue, changing in places to tender 

 green or golden brown, again sparkling like a 

 vast bed of diamonds. In the foreground lay 

 Antelope Island, in hues of purple and bronze, 

 with its chain of hills and graceful sky-line ; 

 and resting on the horizon beyond were the 

 peaks of the grand Oquirrhs, capped with snow. 

 Well might we forget our quest while gazing 

 on this .impressive scene, trying to fix its various 

 features in our memories, to be an eternal pos- 

 session. 



We were recalled to the business in hand by 

 the sudden appearance on the top of a tree be- 

 low us of one of the birds we sought. The 

 branch bent and swayed as the heavy fellow 

 settled upon it, and in a moment a comrade 

 came, calling vigorously, and alighted on a 

 neighboring branch. A few minutes they re- 

 mained, with flirting tails, conversing in garru- 

 lous tones, then together they rose on broad 

 wings, and passed away away over the fields, 

 almost out of sight, before they dropped into a 

 patch of oak-brush. After them appeared others, 

 and we sat there a long time, hoping to see at 

 least one that had its home within our reach. 

 But every bird that passed over turned its face 

 to the mountains ; some seemed to head for the 

 dim Oquirrhs across the lake, while others dis- 

 appeared over the top of the Wasateh behind 



