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THE FLORIDA KEYS. 



I LEFT you abruptly, perhaps uncivilly, reader, at the dawn of day, 

 on Sandy Island, which lies just six miles from the extreme point of 

 South Florida. I did so because I was amazed at the appearance of 

 things around me, which in fact looked so different then from what they 

 seemed at night, that it took some minutes' reflection to account for the 

 change. When we laid ourselves down in the sand to sleep, the waters 

 almost bathed our feet ; when we opened our eyes in the morning, they 

 were at an immense distance. Our boat lay on her side, looking not un- 

 like a whale reposing on a mud-bank. The birds in myriads were prob- 

 ing their exposed pasture-ground. There great flocks of Ibises fed apart 

 from equally large collections of Godwits, and thousands of Herons grace- 

 fully paced along, ever and anon thrusting their javelin bills into the body 

 of some unfortunate fish confined in a small pool of water. Of Fish-Crows 

 I cotdd not estimate the number, but from the havoc they made among 

 the crabs, I conjecture that these animals must have been scarce by the 

 time of next ebb. Frigate Pelicans chased the Jager, which himself had 

 just robbed a poor Gull of its prize, and all the Gallinules ran with spread 

 wines from the mud-banks to the thickets of the island, so timorous had 

 they become when they perceived us. 



Surrounded as we were by so many objects that allured us, not one 

 could we yet attain, so dangerous would it have been to venture on the 

 mud ; and our pilot having assured us that nothing could be lost by 

 waiting, spoke of our eating, and on this hint told us that he would take 

 us to a part of the island where " our breakfast would be abundant al- 

 though uncooked." Off* we went, some of the sailors carrying baskets, 

 others large tin pans and wooden vessels, such as they use for eating their 

 meals in. Entering a thicket of about an acre in extent, we found on 

 every bush several nests of the Ibis, each containing three large and beau- 

 tiful eggs, and all hands fell to gathering. The birds gave way to us, 

 and ere long we had a heap of eggs that promised delicious food. Nor 

 did we stand long in expectation, for, kindling a fire, we soon prepared, 

 in one way or other, enough to satisfy the cravings of our hungry maws. 

 Breakfast ended, the pilot looking at the gorgeous sunrise, said, " Gentle- 

 men, prepare yourselves for fun, the tide is acoming." 



