120 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 
gled dyes, emulating the sea itself in the exquisite 
harmony of their colouring. Raising his gaze, 
ke could look upon the glowing flamingo, the 
rosy-hued curlew, the snowy ibis, the purple 
heron, and the dusky cormorant and pelican, 
Or in the interior, midst tangled groves, dazzling 
with gorgeous flowers, strange plants, and luxu- 
riant trees, where the pure salubrious air, impreg- 
nated with fragrance, steals like balmy breath 
along, he was greeted by gayer songsters, gam- 
bolling among the bushes, or gliding over the 
fresh green waters. 
Continually some strange aerial pilgrim, with 
which he-was unacquainted, would gladden his 
sight. With the various species of doves to be 
met with in Florida, he was particularly de- 
lighted. The peculiarly gentle and loving dis- 
position of these sweet birds, the constancy of 
their attachment to each other, and the anxious 
care exhibited by them for their young, are all 
characteristics which render them of especial 
interest. For Audubon, moreover, there existed 
associations with them, which had for him an 
irresistible charm, which doubtless led him to 
ask, as he does with an exquisite sensibility and 
simplicity, “Who can approach a sitting dove, 
hear its notes of remonstrance, or feel the feeble 
stroke of its wings, without being convinced that 
he is committing a wrong act?” His first at 
