122 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



of the water. Though so timid, they are con- 

 fiding, and will permit a person's near approach. 

 Thus Audubon, once hoped to become the pos- 

 sessor of one alive, and imagined himself on the 

 point of a triumphant capture, when the dove 

 turned upon him her beautiful eye, and he found 

 that his intention was discovered. Gently she 

 glided aside in her nest, then suddenly took to 

 wing. Hovering around, she would alight with- 

 in a few yards of her beloved nest — ^her wings 

 drooping in sorrow, and her whole form trem- 

 bling as if from severe cold. " Who could bear 

 such a scene of despair ?" exclaims Audubon. 

 "I left the mother in security with her off- 

 spring." 



In the morning, while concealed beneath some 

 low spreading branch, her love-notes are given 

 forth. Then, when with the freshness of the 

 morn, the opening flowers spread out all their 

 fragrance, and the sun with increasing ardour 

 glances through the evergreen and thickly leaved 

 oaks, to escape which the owl, swiftly flying 

 close over the earth, hastens to his retreat, and 

 the heavy winged bat undulates through the 

 dewy air, then the melodious accents of her 

 most enchanting voice may best be heard. 



The ground dove, closely resembling the 

 Zenaida dove in its habits, is another visitor of 

 the middle portions of the East Florida coast. 



