SALT-WATER LAGOONS. 
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tlie curlew, the whimbrel, the plover* and the snipe. 
Here, also, we saw the spotted crake, a very sly 
little fellow, keeping close in the cover of the reeds 
and grass. The pretty but scentless Chinese pink 
a little blue-flowered iris, and a yellow, red and 
white mixture of the blossoms of the tormentil, the 
heads of sanguisorba, and the loose corymbs of the 
flower of yarrow, completed nearly all the j)lants 
that redeemed the sandy soil from sameness and 
utter sterility. N earer the sea long salt-water lagoons 
and shallow swamps extended, covered in some parts 
with a white-flowered sea-lavender and the blue 
stars of Aster Tripolium. From these the great 
white heron slowly rose, with bright yellow bill 
pointing out in front, and long black legs stretched 
out behind, and after a few lazy flaps with his 
huge curved wings, alighted again to resume his 
interrupted fishing. Equally familiar was his yet 
larger cousin in gray, - the common heron, and, 
standing on one leg, her loose snovy plumes 
waving in the breeze, the elegant white egret 
dreamed of frogs and fishes. Sandpipers and green- 
