MAN-O'-WAR BIRDS. "NOW THEY BEGAN TO RISE" 



CHAPTER II 



FOLLOWING AUDUBON AMONG THE FLORIDA KEYS 



As the Marion neared the Islet called " Indian Key" which is situated on the east- 

 ern coast of the peninsula of Florida, my heart swelled with uncontrollable delight. 

 AUDUBON, " Episodes." 



RVRE and beautiful water-birds in amazing numbers, 

 tropical islets with their dark mangroves, waving 

 palms, and coral shores, waters prolific in fish and 

 huge sea-turtles, with the soft Southern zephyrs playing over 

 all these were my impressions of the Florida Keys gath- 

 ered from the writings of Audubon. From boyhood I had 

 gloated over these accounts of wonders which I was now to 

 see for myself. No small part of the pleasure of such an 

 expedition is in anticipation, planning, and preparation. So 

 the " triumvirate " of various former expeditions set their wits 

 at work on the elusive, yet delightful, campaign of detail. 

 Months of inquiry and correspondence resulted at last in 



