DESCRIPTION OF THE TORTUGAS. 131 



banks of shelly sands, intersected by deep intri- 

 cate channels, are especially resorted to by them ; 

 and many a luckless mariner called to that dan- 

 gerous coast has met his end from careless con- 

 tact of his vessel with the great coral reefs adja- 

 cent. To these islet banks, thickly spread with 

 corals, sea gems, and the fanciful jewelry of the 

 deep, turtles of various sizes resort to deposit 

 their eggs in the sand; with flocks, arriving 

 every spring of the sea-fowl. Multitudes of 

 beautiful fishes fill the neighbouring waters. 

 Perhaps no more interesting scene could be im- 

 agined than that presented by these famous 

 islands beneath the influence of their gorgeous 

 sunsets. The brilliant orb of day seems there 

 to triple its dimensions ; partially sunk beneath 

 the waves, glittering through their transparence 

 with crimson flush, it irradiates their iris hues, 

 while in its encircling splendour the whole 

 heavens are transfigured as by a flood of golden 

 .light, purpling the distant clouds which hover 

 over the horizon, A marvellous blaze of splen- 

 dour is poured over the west, and even the masses 

 of vapour appear like mountains of molten gold, 

 till gradually their brilliance disappears behind 

 the sable veil of night. 



The hawk, hovering on noiseless wing, enjoys 

 the gentle sea-breeze; the terns settle on their 

 nests, and the pelicans hasten to their homes 



