or Cape jastnines covered with their glossy green leaves and double -waxy- white, 

 deliciotisly scented flowers, banana shrubs S unrivalled in the sweet perfume of their 

 blossoms, sweet olives^ with their insignificant but exceedingly fragrant blooms, golden 

 dew-drops^, camphor trees, magnolias, orange trees in fruit and blossom, climbing 

 allamandas, star jasmines*, and many other evergreen shrubs, trees, and vines were 

 found growing in the sandy soil in luxuriant profusion. Sago palms ^, bamboos, the 

 indigenous cabbage and saw palmettos, Cocos australis and several species of date 

 palms impart to these grounds a decidedly tropical appearance. This morning's w^alk 

 in the bright sunshine and salubrious air made a deep and lasting impression upon my 

 mind. Near one of the most tastefully arranged gardens, replete with Magnolia fuscata 

 and other choice shrubs, I stopped to admire the beds of beautiful amaryllis {Hippe- 

 astram equestre and its larger and more dazzling variety H. equestre "Hedwig," H. 

 Johasonii, H. Graveana, H. crocea, and other hybrids), the masses of spider lilies °, the 

 immense clumps of crinums^, and especially the gigantic stem-like bulbs of the St. John's 

 lily', and of two other species', the lily -like flowers of which are deliciously fragrant. 

 While I w^as still enjoying the pleasure of gazing at these floral treasures, I heard 

 a well-known Thrush-like song coming from the top of a large magnolia standing in 

 the same grounds. When I looked up, my eyes beheld the beautiful Summer Redbird, 

 or Summer Tanager, a bird which I knew well, having frequently observed it in Texas, 

 Louisiana, and other southern States, but which I had never seen in the immediate 

 neighborhood of the crow^ded streets of a city. 



During the next few days I saw this bright colored bird quite often among the 

 large oaks and magnolias of the city, but nowhere had I such a good opportunity to 

 observe it than near the home of a friend of mine at St. Nicholas, just opposite Jackson- 

 ville. Before we reached his residence we had to pass through a park-like piece of wood- 

 land, at the entrance of which groups of yuccas or Spanish daggers^" were planted. 

 The magnificent Magnolia gra,ndi£ora, loblolly bays, live and w^ater-oaks, sweet 

 gums", red bays'^, and other trees shaded the ground. The underwood was mostly 

 cleared away, but here and there were found thickets of sparkle-berry*', swamp honey- 

 suckle", clethras, hollies, snow-drop trees *^ sweet-leaf bushes *°, and many others; these 

 thickets were frequently overgrown with Carolina jasmine and cross vine". In these 

 grounds the birds, are always protected and find a congenial home. When I entered this 

 piece of woodland I still met large numbers of Juncos, White-throated and White- 

 crowned Sparrows, several Towhees, Catbirds, and many Warblers. Mockingbirds were 

 heard from all sides, singing their sweetest as well as their most peculiar strains, while 

 the loud and ringing notes of the Cai^dinal Redbird, sounding like what cheer! what 

 cheer! what cheer! came from all the dense thickets of holly overgrown w;ith smilax 

 and Carolina jasmine. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were carrying lichens to their nests. The 

 elegant Painted Bunting was to be found in every thicket. In these woods I heard 

 the songs and call-notes of many Summer Tanagers. Perhaps most of them were on 



1 Magnolia fiiscata. * O/ea fragrans. » Daranta Flumieri. * Rbynchospermum jasminoides. = Cycas revoluta. 

 G Hymenocallis caribsea. ^ Crinum asiaticutn, H. erabescens, C, scabrum, C. capense, C. zeylanicum. 8 Critium pedan- 

 culatam. » C. angastam, C. amabile. lo Yucca aloifolia, Y. gloriosa, Y. Slamentosa. ii Liquidambar styraciHua. 

 12 Persea carolinensis. is Vaccinium arborea, ^* Azalea viscosa, 15 Halesia tetraptera. le Symplocos tinctoria. 

 f Bignonia capreolata. 



