THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA. 195 



a high shell mound near the center of the tract, and 

 on this mound Mr. Webb's house stands. The point is cov- 

 ered with native and cultivated shrubs, plants, etc. Shades 

 of Agassiz, what a paradise for a botanist ! Within the space 

 of this five acres may be found West India birch, papaya, two 

 varieties of palmetto, the date palm, red cedar, live oak, 

 American aloe or century plant, yucca or Spanish bayonet, 

 bird pepper, winterberry, Spanish stopper, mimosa, sea bean, 

 iponacea, madeira vine, several species of convolvulus, several 

 of euphorbiaca, two of cactus, mershalline, verbesina, verno- 

 nia, sea myrtle, grape vine and ivy of several varieties, big- 

 nonia, soap wort, sugar berry, prickly ash, sea-ash, matich 

 plum, crow berry, Indian fig, or India rubber tree, black, red 

 and white mangrove, buttonwood, sea grape, and many 

 others. Several of the century plants have bloomed since 

 Mr. Webb has lived here. In some instances the stock 

 bearing the flower has grown to a height of thirty feet. In 

 a few days after blooming, the plant dies. 



The windows on the north and south sides of the house 

 command a beautiful view of the bay, and from those in the 

 west end you may look away across Sarasota Key and miles 

 out upon the Gulf. Steamers and sail vessels may be seen 

 almost any hour in the day. We had scarcely entered the 

 house when Mr. Webb commenced the task of destroying my 

 night's rest by telling me that the deer were eating up the 

 sweet-potato vines at the homes of his two sons-in-law, only a 

 mile from here in opposite directions, and that they would be 

 very glad to have them killed off; that sand-hill cranes, white 

 egrets, ibises, etc., were plentiful around the ponds from one 

 to three miles from his house ; that on South Creek, three 

 miles away, alligators are numerous ; that his two sons who 

 are now away from home, but will return in a day or two, are 

 enthusiastic and successful sportsmen, and that they will be 



