24 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
shifted round to the quarter antlci- 
er this, one fine morning after a 
good night’s run^ we saw a long low tongue of land, 
with some scattered pine-trees on its ridge, and 
a white lighthouse at its termination. This was 
announced to he Mobile Point ; two pilot boats 
were cruising about, from which we took a man 
and at once passed over the bar. This can only be 
passed at certain states of the tide, and is always 
dangerous ; the breakers were running on it when 
we passed. There are several small islands about, 
—mere low, flat sand-banks, over which the tide 
runs, but on one of them there is another light- 
house erected. As we passed within a few hundred 
yards of the point, many specimens of a pretty 
moth flew on board; they were Geometrm^ with 
angular wings, of a rich velvety cream colour, 
without spots. A very fine individual of the black 
swallowtail butterfly {Papilio Asterius) likewise 
fluttered about the vessel. Flocks of pelicans 
{Pelecanus fuscus) were flying about, and shoals 
of dolphins {Delphinus delpMs) were wallowing 
and frisking in the water close to the shore. The 
pilot left us here, and the low point speedily sunk 
beneath the horizon, as we rapidly ran before a 
fair breeze up the beautiful bay^ which is about 
thirty miles long. Mobile does not come into view 
until we are close upon it, being hidden behind 
a wooded cape or projection, on which is a third 
lighthouse. But my thoughts of this city, and 
subsequent adventures, I shall defer to my next, 
and for the present say, Adieu. 
having quickly 
pated. 
But soon af 
