THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, 203 



more curious appearance, arising from the same 

 cause. Beino; "becalmed off one of the little Keys of 

 the Florida Ueef, the crew had been amusing them- 

 selves with fishing, in which they had been very suc- 

 cessful. An Osprey {Halaetus ossifragus), attracted, 

 doubtless, by the fish that lay in profusion about the 

 decks, was slowly sailing around, occasionally alight- 

 ino- on the ropes and spars. As he hovered overhead, 

 turning his head from side to side, every feather was 

 distinctly seen ; but from the reflection of the water 

 beneath, all his under parts, which are pure white, 

 appeared of a fine pea-green, and it M^as only on 

 catching a side-glance at him, that I discovered his 

 true colour, and identified the species. It is very 

 pleasing to peer down into the varying depths, 

 especially in the clear waters of these seas, and look 

 at the many-coloured bottom ; sometimes a bright 

 pearly sand, spotted w^ith shells and corals ; then a 

 large patch of brown rock, whose gaping clefts and 

 fissures are but half hidden by the waving tangles of 

 purple weed ; where multitudes of strange creatures 

 revel and riot undisturbed. 



" Come down, come down from the tall ship's side ; 

 What a marvellous sight is here ! 

 Look ! purple rocks and crimson trees, 

 Down in the deep so clear ! 



" See ! where those shoals of dolphins go, 

 A glad and glorious band ; 

 Sporting amitlst the daj'-bright woods 

 Of a coral fairy land. 



" See ! on the violet sands beneath, 

 How the gorgeous shells do glide I 



