124 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 



CHAPTER X. 



n^HROUGHOUT the most part of the so- 

 -*- called forests of East Florida, there exist 

 districts which, thinly clad with woodlands, hav- 

 ing an undergrowth of grass and shrubs, inter- 

 sperced with a few tall pines^ are denominated 

 Pine Barrens. The sole objects which here 

 diversify the continuous flatneS^ of the soil, are 

 a few sluggish pools, around which the cattle 

 congregate to allay their thirst, and the various 

 kinds of game abundant in their wilds. After a 

 course of miles over these dreary barrens, the 

 traveller is delighted to behold again the sight 

 of sheltering vegetation in wide-spreading oaks 

 and other trees. In their vicinity the air is purer 

 and more cool, luxuriant flowers diffuse their 

 fragrance, the songs of birds re-echo through 

 their shade, and already he seems refreshed at 

 the sight, even of a clear spring, of which the 

 waters are heard rippling through the unier- 

 growth. 



Then beneath the covert of innumerable vines, 

 he may seek a pleasant resting-place, above which 

 the jessamine and bignonia fondly intertwine. 



