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RAMBLES IN FLORIDA. . 349 
but ordinarily the distinctive splashed character is main- 
tained. Commonly the markings are rather larger, and, 
consequently more thickly set on the larger part of the egg, 
where there is also some tendency to run together, though 
scarcely to form a ring around the butt; but in none of the 
specimens examined was the pointed end free from spots. 
Here and there may usually be observed a few pale obsolete 
spots, as noticed in the Terns’ eggs, but they are fewer and 
much less conspicuous, and in fact are hardly to be detected 
without close scrutiny. 

RAMBLES IN FLORIDA. 
BY R. E. C. STEARNS. 

PART II. 
Tue trip across Florida, from the Atlantic Ocean to the 
Gulf of Mexico, is made by railroad. Rising with the birds 
and eating an early breakfast, a ten minutes walk takes us 
to the depot, which is about a mile from the hotels. There 
18 No commotion or hustling, no noise of many hackmen nor 
crowding of passengers, neither any difficulty in finding a 
seat ; a single car is sufficient to accommodate the few persons 
that have occasion to travel. Of the small number, probably 
one-half will stop at stations by the way; the principal busi- 
hess of the road is the transportation of freight, and were it 
hot for the extensive business in the forwarding of merchan- 
dize, consisting of cotton, rosin, sugar, lumber, etc., on ac- 
Count of the steamship connections which form, together 
with this road, a through line from New Orleans to New 
York, by which much time is saved compared with the other 
routes, it would, doubtless, prove unprofitable to its propri- 
etors, 
The ride from the Ocean to the Gulf absorbs nearly a day, 
for it will be supper time when we reach Way Key. The 
