356 . THE SAGE-BRUSH. 
manufacturers of lead pencils, and in the neighborhood are 
rude shanties, cabins and houses, that, viewed with the trees 
and mounds and water, furnish pretty sketches for the draw- 
ing-book. 
Not many species of shells can be found upon the beach, 
though much of interest may be dredged in the deeper water 
of the channel a few hundred yards from the shore. Upon 
an old wreck, reached at low tide by means of a boat, a 
species of Murex ( M. rufus) may be collected, and the very 
common Littorina (L. Zrrorata) may be gathered in quan- 
tities, sticking to the marsh grass just above the mud. 
The steamer from New Orleans that is to carry us far- 
ther South having unexpectedly arrived, we were prevented 
from making an examination of the adjoining islands, or as 
thorough an investigation of the mounds as their importance 
demanded. Early in the afternoon we were "all aboard," 
and soon after the hawsers were cast loose and the steamer 
was under way ; slowly feeling the course through a crooked 
and insufficient channel an hour passed away before we were 
in water deep enough to admit of greater speed. The water 
is so shallow that vessels are compelled to keep a long dis- 
tance from shore, and the land being flat, but little can be 
seen from the deck. The mildness of the temperature, the 
clear sky and smooth sea, made it a delightful trip; and we 
shall ever remember with pleasure the down voyage from 
Cedar Keys to Tampa Bay. | 
Me stu 



THE SAGE BRUSH. 
BY W. W. BAILEY. 



j every account of Western travel we meet with this 
e. It is as common in the vernacular of Nevada and 
as the word grass is with us, and for the like reason 
he plant to which the title is applied is everywhere 





