\V.\TER TllRrsn. 15 



are also very pale ; being nearly while. This -.pecics is found during the breeding season throughout Eastern United 

 States, north to Hudson's Hay. It winter^ in Southern Klorida and the West Indies; many also pass into South 



America. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of seven specimens. Length, 5'88; stretch, 9-33; wing, 2-91; tail, 2-02; bill, '52; 

 tarsus. -7,s. (itvatcst length, (MO; greatest extent of wings, 10-03; greatest length of wing, IJ.IO; of tail, 2-15; of 

 bill -III; of tarsus, -si;. Smallest length. 5-50; smallest stretch of wings, 8-GO; smallest length of wing, 2-80; 

 of tail, 1-90;' of bill, -50; of tarsus, -80. 



Di.SI lilT'llllN OF NKST AND EGGS. 



,V'.--'. composed of leaves, mosses, and line grasses ; lined with flue mosses and roots. Dimensions. External 

 diameter, 5-00 inches; internal, :!:><> inches. External depth, 3-00 inches; internal, 2'00 inches. 



/.';/!/*, four or live in number, Hob, colored, spotted throughout wiih light, reddish-brown. Dimensions, from 

 75X-GO to -83x-G5. 



HABITS. 



The island of Key West is about six miles in length, and is of an irregular form ; being 

 nearly divided in the middle by a deep cove which opens to the westward. A creek also makes 

 in from the eastward, and forms an outlet to ti large, shallow basin of water, which is called 

 "The Salt Pond." An artiticial canal connects this sheet with the cove, so that the key is 

 really separated into two islands. The city stands upon the southernmost one, which, owing 

 to a rich deposit of soil, is covered with a luxuriant growth of vegetation. The northern 

 islet is entirely uninhabited, being somewhat barren ; even in the interior, one sees but few 

 speeies of trees or shrubs, and these are dwarfed by the extreme heat which prevails at 

 certain seasons, for the vegetable mould is thinly spread upon the coral that forms the 

 foundation of all the Florida keys, but as we approach the western shore this scanty supply 

 of vegetation vanishes and the surface of the rock is exposed. This limy formation is 

 comparatively soft, and the action of the elements has worn it into jagged points; while the 

 surface water, caused by rains, has formed numerous small channels, of a foot or eighteen 

 inches in depth, through which it escapes into the sea. A few hardy plants grow along the 

 borders of these little tissures, but all else is a rough plain of blackened rocks, until we como 

 to the high-water line. Here grows one of the true products of the tropics, the mangrove. 

 One unaccustomed to the habits of these trees would be surprised to see them existing in so 

 de.-olate a spot, especially where they are so constantly washed by the salt waves, yet they 

 appear in a flourishing condition, and not only mark the line along the shore, but form many 

 little verdant islands far out in the light green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Their manner 

 of growth is singular; the roots are not only long, but flexible, and grasp any projection of 

 the Mirl'aee that presents itself, or thrust themselves into the crevices of the rocks when they 

 come within their reach. But this support would be of little avail in enabling the tree 

 to maintain an upright position during the heavy winds which often occur in this region. 

 .Nature, however, has provided powerful braces in the shape of aerial rofits which are thrown 

 out from various heights, and growing downward reach the rock and fasten themselves firmly. 

 Shoots start up from these, which in their turn throw out others, and thus the whole forms 

 a dense thicket with interlacing branches and root-stalks, through which it is extremely difficult 

 to force a passage. 



The mangroves, which form the narrow edging along the western shore, were not high, yet 

 they were chosen as an asylum by a large number of birds, and consequently I frequently visited 

 them in search of the rarer species. While so engaged I observed some small birds running 

 about among the roots, apparently searching for aquatic insects, which were left by the tide, 

 that flowed over the place at high water. They were extremely shy and it was only with great 

 difficulty that I could obtain a shot at one, which when taken proved to be the common Water 

 Thrush. Although I saw them occasionally on other parts of the key. among the mangroves, 

 yet they were particularly abundant in this place, and I always found them there, cw-n after 



