surprise, are only another form of some one very familiar to us. We do not at first recognize the resemblance. Do we not often meet with a person who looks so much like an асquaintance that it seems impossible that he is not closely related, while the true relative would not perhaps be recognized? Yet a closer inquiry reveals certain characteristics which are unmistakable.

In the case of this tillandsia, what a wide difference in the appearance of the two species or members! We will now call them, of the same family, using the terms members, families, classes, and grand divisions of nature, through which

This

lates within the trough-like leaves, and thus the
plant is cared for during the dry season.
plant sometimes germinates upon a rail-fence;
and fastening its twine-like roots around the
wood, seems to thrive as well there as upon the
trunks and branches of trees.

we get a ready comprehensive view of nature. The scarlet tillandsia* looks like a small The pine-apple and the scarlet air-plant, both yucca, or pine-apple, and has a flower stalk members of the bromelia family, quite resem- composed of branches like heads of rye, of the ble each other in most parts; but another mem- brightest scarlet; the stamens a rich azure-blue, ber of this family, the long moss-Tillandsia us-tipped with golden anthers. The dew accumuneoides would hardly be regarded as such by the stranger; yet there are certain characters common to all. The bromelia is represented also by a tree which produces the delicious fruit called sour-sop, resembling the pine-apple fruit in external appearance, but quite different in taste. Another bromelia is a large-leaved plant, which bears the pinquin fruit, from which a wine is made of great strength and pleasant flavor. One of the most familiar examples of a large family, with members wearing nearly similar vesture, is found in the tomato and potato kind-solanias. Here we find strange forms-some of doubtful repute, really claiming relationship of very close nature with our steady, domestic tomatoes, potatoes, egg-plants, peppers, and others-no less disreputable forms than the night-shade, tobacco, henbane, belladonna, thorn-apple, bitter-sweet, etc.

In most of the above-enumerated the flower is strikingly similar, both in shape and color; and the leaves, in odor, form, and color, group the whole family together; and the unanimous opinion would be that they all strongly possess family likeness, though each has its peculiar or characteristic habits and properties. Some are climbing vines, others are shrubby plants, that seem to revel in the most uncomely places of the earth.

The T. usneoides-the long moss which hangs in such profusion from the cypress and liveoaks of the South-is another true epiphyte; growing upon trees, but deriving no nourishment from them. Having no roots, it hangs in festoons and clusters as if thrown over the branches by accident. Its flowers are inconspicuous. Its seeds are so light they are blown easily through the foliage, vegetating wherever they fall. Different is the parasite, which not only grows upon the tree, but derives nourishment therefrom. The mistletoe-Phoradendron flavescens -that of old Druidical fame, which grows upon the oaks of England, is a fair specimen of a parasite. It also grows in this region. Its berries furnish the well-known glutinous component of bird-lime. The dodder-Cuscutaof the North, is another example, though belonging to a different family. Five other species grow in the swamps of this region; some

• Presented on the dead branch of the live-oak as an air-plant.

of them very delicate and wax-like, climbing| the trunks of trees.

The long moss is quite an important article of domestic commerce. The outer gray tissue, when dry, is easily separated from the black, wire-like heart, which bears strong resemblance to the horse-hair of the upholsterer. It is much used for mattresses, and gives a good return to those engaged in its preparation.

The barracouda, a most excellent fish, is also taken by the spear, but by another expedient, also somewhat novel. The fisherman selects a time when the tide so runs that he can float quietly with his back toward the sun; the light is then directly in the eyes of the fish. Like the pickerel, the barracouda floats warily and darts like an arrow; but with the sunlight in his eye his enemy has the best of it, and strikes unerringly.

In the shoals about here many beautiful seaweeds were seen with exquisite colors, ranging from delicate tints of green to browns, tipped with crimson and scarlet.

As we wander along the coast, now northward, leaving Cape Sable, the early labors of Audubon are continually in mind. Labors of love to him no doubt; yet one can not help reflecting how constant and enduring must have been the enthusiasm for his favorite pursuit, to Tampa Bay is the next most important place support and cheer him alone in these wild and in our route. It is distinguished as the home then more dangerous regions. Through these of a most remarkable animal; no less than one swamps and along this coast the great natural- that forms a connecting link between the presist roamed for months, to cultivate an acquaint-ent and a past geological age-the manatee, or ance with the rarer birds, and to see them in sea-cow, one of three species known to inhabit their homes.

Punta Rassa, at the mouth of the Caloosahatchie, was an important place during the Indian wars. A fortified block-house and other government buildings yet remain. The banks of the river in many places are enormously increased in height by the dead shells left by Indians. A little above the mouth is the more pretentious garrison of Fort Myers, a delightful situation. On the bank of the river are the graves of our officers who were killed in the terrible Dade massacre. A decent monument marks the spot. Oysters of the largest kind and of the best quality abound here, their southernmost habitat.

Flowering plants abound in greatest profusion, and frequently we met with old friends of the garden, that seemed out of place here, yet were in their own homes. The lovers of good fish will find rich mullet, and so large are they that the spear is used in their capture; in a novel manner too. A two-tined spear with long slender handle is tossed in the air, to fall vertically among or upon the fishes. A line attached serves to haul them in.

the globe. As among terrestrial carnivora the lions, wolves, and dogs are represented in the water by the seals, so the great terrestrial pachyderms, the elephant, the mastodon, and the dinotherium, have an aquatic representative in the manatee. Curiously enough, the only locality where this animal is found in this country is a fresh-water creek leading into Tampa Bay. One distinct species inhabits the Amazon; another the Red Sea. The three species comprise the whole race known to science. A township and a river derive their names from this creature; and manatee sirup has more than a local reputation. It is believed that the cane or sorghum produced in the manatee country is of surpassingly fine flavor. It is consequently in great request.

The manatee prefers the fresh water, but is not exclusively aquatic in its habits. Like the whale, the body tapers to a fish-like form, and terminates in a flat, horizontal tail, which consists of the rudimentary legs united within finshaped integuments. The arms are like the seal's, short, flattened, and inclosed within a fin-like palm. Rudimentary nails upon the

palm serve to hold the young while swimming. | to help himself, and, nolens volens, settles on The head is round, and the upper lip is covered poor Pelec's head-a head, albeit, none of the with a stiff mustache. The recently discovered smallest, but one amply rotund and roomy. dinotherium, the largest of terrestrial animals, Now is the moment of his discontent. As the is closely related. The characteristic features fish is tossed to oring it right end down the of the elephant, the tapir, and the whale fami- gull adroitly snaps it away, laughing his derily are united in this huge form. Like the sive ha, ha! as he goes. The pelican seems manatee and elephant, it has an enormous pair to submit to it as an inevitable operation, and of tusks directed downward, and, like the whale, makes no resistance, but flaps heavily up again is deficient in posterior extremities. to renew his search. Meantime the lazy gull is brought to grief, even in the midst of his hilarity. The war-hawk is on his track. Listening and ogling from the neighboring shore, he spies when he can leave his roost to profitable purpose. The exultant laughter of the gull soon gives place to shrill cries of alarm. The war bird, conscious of his power, bears a wary eye; cautious, and sure of his mark. weaker darts fitfully in zigzag lines, striving with all his power to escape. Fatigue and fear prevail, and losing faith, he lets the choice morsel drop. Down darts the hawk; clutching the prey ere it reaches the sea, he soars straightway to the nearest roost. So the struggle for existence goes on.

One calm day, as we were lying at anchor off the shore, a long, devious band of ripples was observed, contrasting sensibly with the still water of the Gulf. Eventually it approached, and proved to consist of myriads of small fishes -young "sardines." Here was a wonderful illustration of the maxim, "Eat and be eaten." First, the spawn of these small fishes is hatched upon the surface of the sea, and forthwith acres of fishy forms live, move, and have their being -gregariously, and almost as one mass of animation. So uniform and simultaneous are their movements, they seem like the result of one impulse. Large fishes, the Jacks, so called, make vigorous onslaughts among them, and carry many captive. The dash and uniform simultaneous movement of a squad of Jacks as they make a raid upon these solid columns of sardinian infantry are interesting to witness. The sardines are continually leaping out of the water to escape their enemies, presenting in the sunlight their sparkling silver sides, and attracting the attention of the watchful sea-fowl. This vast animated patch soon became a scene of the greatest interest. As the "streaky fingers of the morn" began to fade, and the sun-rays to glisten on the silvery wings of the flying fish, and glow in iridescence on the rippling masses, the brown pelicans drop from their roost and come flapping heavily toward the scene. Fluttering for an instant over the prey, down he plunges, with open, dip-net bill, resting on the water to adjust the game in his capacious pouch. The laughing-gull-inglorious bird!-with eager and accustomed eye, hovering near, essays

The

The sun was now fairly up, and new intruders came to the feast. The air was alive with winged watchers and hunters. On the outskirts of this river of fishes the little terns were busily engaged; and they deserve all they get. Brisk, expert little fellows, their faith is "total immersion." Quick as thought they dart into the sea, and seize their prey wholly under the surface. With a nervous flutter and pleasant chirp they rise upon wing again-pretty busy-bodies indeed.

The great gray gulls and the gannets and cormorants hang around like so many vagabonds, ready to pick up a dead fish or floating fragment-too clumsy and inexpert to fish legitimately.

Stranger creatures now came to the festival: a dozen or more of those great sea-devils-not those of "The Toilers" memory, but sting-rays, or stingarees, or ocean-vampires, or sea-bats

liable scientific sources. The breadth of one measured by Dr. Storer, of Boston, was eighteen feet;* its length was seventeen feet, exclusive of the tail, which was nearly as much more. Those observed by us were about ten feet across. This is the only time we have ever seen them in numbers. Their movements were much like the larger butterflies, as their wing-like expansion of body is used in swimming. A smaller species of the family, the whip-ray, or whiperee-Rhinoptera quadriloba-is seen frequently on the reef, and is distinguished for its long, slender, whip-like tail, four to five feet in length, round and supple as gutta-percha, tapering to a point.

Cephaloptera vampyrus-nomenclature enough | The sea-devil is not uncommon off the Atto scare the whole army of sardines, aside from lantic shores, but the larger ones seldom go their hideous shapes. The huge forms were near the land. The dimensions are enormous, swaying up and down through the line, creating and may seem exaggerated; but in this insad havoc. By this time a strange scene was stance, like every other where the measurement before us-a contest wherein the strongest or or approximate size is given in these papers, it most expert came off best. We could not as-is from actual personal experience, or from resert that the vampires ate the fishes, but they seemed to be so active, and confined their operations so undeviatingly to the shoal, it was natural to suppose they did. It was rather an unusual occurrence for such a variety of creatures to get together in one struggle of the kind. Shoals of fishes are frequently beset by gulls and pelicans, but here were congregated many forms not often seen. Could we have looked under the surface, other expectant marines, with open countenances, might have been seen. The voracious bonito and the hyena-faced barracouda linger near the outposts to snap the stragglers, casting an eye, meanwhile, to their own foe, the tiger-like shark, which sculls in gyratory survey of the manoeuvres. Jelly-fishes-animated rafts-float over and through the columns, throwing down their deadly missiles: threads of electric potency, which wound and lasso at the same instant. To name all the enemies of these unfortunate fishes, those we know as probable enemies in addition to those actually in sight, would require much enumeration from all the various branches of zoology. The great variety of animal life in these waters is made strikingly manifest at such times as these, and attitude is just as when they turn, bringing a large when the sea is perfectly smooth.

The rays are furnished with most singular eggs: dark green leather-like cases, rectangular in form, and with four slender threads, which serve to hold, entwined around the floating algae or other drifting objects. Within the case is a reddish yolk. Floating on the surface, the sunheat brings to maturity the imprisoned young, which are liberated from the case through a

* Represented in our cut with leather-tortoise. Its part of the fin out of water.

ous.

split in the edge, which was until now imperviThe sides contract, and the young ray comes forth, still attached to a considerable portion of the yolk, which serves to nourish him until proper functions develop. Eggs of the common skate having these characteristics are often found on the beaches of the North, from which the young fish can be taken alive.

The spines of the large rays prove terrible weapons, and wounds from them are exceedingly dangerous. Experienced seamen seldom care to attack them, as their huge forms move with such impetus as to crush all before them. It is a fact perhaps not generally known that a species of ray was formerly known in the waters of Cape Cod that possessed considerable electric power, like the torpedo. It was called the cramp-fish. Latterly it is seldom seen.

Steamers plying between New Orleans and Havana touch here to take and deliver freight and passengers. The village is prettily situated on a mound, which is shaded completely by grand old live-oaks. Long moss hangs in wonderful profusion from the limbs. Palmettos and yuccas abound, and what with the lumber trade, good oysters and fish, they contrive to make it a tolerable abiding-place. As we have hint

Along the whole shore from Charlotte's Inlet to Cedar Keys, where we now come to anchor, a fine white silicious sand is the prevailing component of the soil. Sea-Horse Key, a high mound-like island, fifty feet from water-mark, the highest land south of Hatteras, is of the same character. As the substructure is of coral formation, this sand must have been carried from the great outlets of the upper trended with regard to co-operative husbandry or of the Gulf coast. It is said to be found as far south on the Atlantic coast as Jupiter Inlet. It is fair to suppose, allowing that the peninsula was at one time much shorter than it now is, that the Gulf Stream has had an agency in the distribution of this sand, carrying it on along the Gulf shore, sweeping round the southern end, and leaving it heaped upon all sides.

With the round tower of the light-house, SeaHorse Key, at the entrance of Cedar Keys Harbor, forms quite a pleasing object. The harbor is very shoal, but narrow winding channels lead to the town on Way Key or Dépôt Key, where the railroad from Fernandina terminates.

intelligent application of agriculture in South Florida, so here it is possible that a paradise almost can be realized. The accessories of nature are so profuse and grand, so full of use and beauty; but how stupid are the people, the indigenous race, called crackers! Pale, sharpvisaged, sandy-haired people, ignorant beyond all reason; little can be expected from themor nothing, but to vegetate.

Upon a long wide beach at low-water we met one of those curious armies of soldier-crabs, or fiddlers. A space of many rods was wholly occupied by them, and so closely did they march that their various movements seemed simulta