120 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



gled dyes, emulating the sea itself in the exquisite 

 harmony of their colouring. Eaising his gaze, 

 he could look upon the glowing flamingo, the 

 rosy-hued curlew, the snowy ibis, the purple 

 heron, and the dusky cormorant and pelican. 

 Or in the interior, midst tangled groves, dazzling 

 with gorgeous flowers, strange plants, and luxu- 

 riant trees, where the pure salubrious air, impreg- 

 nated with fragrance, steals like balmy breath 

 along, he was greeted by gayer songsters, gam- 

 bolling among the bushes, or gliding over the 

 fresh green waters. 



Continually some strange aerial pilgrim, with 

 which he was unacquainted, would gladden his 

 sight. With the various species of doves to be 

 met with in Florida, he was particularly de- 

 lighted. The peculiarly gentle and loving dis- 

 position of these sweet birds, the constancy of 

 their attachment to each other, and the anxious 

 care exhibited by them for their young, are all 

 characteristics which render them of especial 

 interest. For Audubon, moreover, there existed 

 associations with them, which had for him an 

 irresistible charm, which doubtless led him to 

 ask, as he does with an exquisite sensibility and 

 simplicity, " Who can approach a sitting dove, 

 hear its notes of remonstrance, or feel the feeble 

 stroke of its wings, without being convinced that 

 he is committing a wrong act?" His first at- 



