124 AUDUBON THE NATURALIST. 
CHAPTER X. 
fPHROUGEOUT the most part of the so 
called forests of East Florida, there exist 
districts which, thinly clad with woodlands, hav- 
ing an undergrowth of grass and shrubs, inter- 
sperced with a few tall pines, are denominated 
Pine Barrens. The sole objects which here 
diversify the continuous flatness of the soil, are 
a few sluggish pools, around which the cattle 
congregate to allay their thirst, and the various 
kinds of game abundant in their wilds. After a 
course of miles over these dreary barrens, the 
traveller is delighted to behold again the sight 
of sheltering vegetation in wide-spreading oaks 
and other trees. In their vicinity the air is purer 
and more cool, luxuriant flowers diffuse their 
fragrance, the songs of birds re-echo through 
their shade, and already he seems refreshed at 
the sight, even of a clear spring, of which the 
waters are heard rippling through the unier- 
growth. 
Then beneath the covert of innumerable vines, 
he may seek a pleasant resting-place, above which 
the jessamine and bignonia fondly intertwine. 
