DESCRIPTION OF THE TORTUGAS. 131 
Lanks of shelly sands, intersected by deep intri. 
cate channels, are especially resorted to by them ; 
and many a luckless mariner called to that dan- 
gerous coast has met his end from careless con- 
tact of his vessel with the great coral reefs adja- 
cent. To these islet banks, thickly spread with 
corals, sea gems, and the fanciful jewelry of the 
deep, turtles of various sizes resort to deposit 
their eggs in the sand; with flocks, arriving 
every spring of the sea-fowl. Multitudes of 
beautiful fishes fill the neighbouring waters. 
Perhaps no more interesting scene could be im- 
agined than that presented by these famous 
islands beneath the influence of their gorgeous 
sunsets. The brilliant orb of day seems there 
to triple its dimensions; partially sunk beneath 
the waves, glittering through their transparence 
with crimson flush, it irradiates their iris hues, 
while in its encircling splendour the whole 
heavens are transfigured as by a flood ef golden 
light, purpling the distant clouds which hover 
over the horizon. A marvellous blaze of splen- 
dour is poured over the west, and even the masses 
of vapour appear like mountains of molten gold, 
till gradually their brilliance disappears behind 
the sable veil of night. 
The hawk, hovering on noiseless wing, enjoys 
the gentle sea-breeze; the terns settle on their 
nests, and the pelicans hasten to their homes 
