290 RED-EYED VÍREO.
and builds a pensile nest. You will see its figure in my fourth volume of
Illustrations, when I hope to be able to give you a good account of its
habits.
VIREO OLIVACEUS, Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 71-
RED-EYED FLYCATCHER, MUSCICAPA OLIVACEA, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 55.
pi. 12, fig. 3—Nuttall, Manual, p. 312.
Adult Male. Plate CL.
Bill of moderate length, strong, depressed at the base, compressed towards
the end, somewhat ascending. Upper mandible with the dorsal
line slightly convex, the sides convex, the edges sharp and notched towards
the end, the tip acute and suddenly deflected; lower mandible
with the dorsal line also slightly convex, the back rounded, the edges
sharp and inflected, the tip acute. Nostrils basal, lateral, oblong. Head
rather large, neck short, body rather robust. Feet of ordinary length;
tarsus compressed, anteriorly scutellate, sharp behind; toes slender, free;
claws arched, compressed, acute.
Plumage soft and blended. Wings rather long, the second and third
primaries longest; tail of ordinary length, slightly emarginate. Bristles
at the base of the bill short.
Bill brown above, pale bluish-grey beneath. Iris red. Feet bluishgrey.
The general colour of the plumage above is light yellowish-olive,
the crown of the head deep-grey, bordered on each side by a line of
blackish, below which is a line of greyish-white passing from the nostril
over the eye. Quills dusky, olivaceous on the outer margin, white on the
inner. Tail wood-brown. The lower parts are white, the breast and
sides tinged with pale yellow.
Length 5\ inches, extent of wings 9 ; bill along the back nearly \ ,
along the edge T%; tarsus T
8
2 .
The Female resembles the Male, but is of a duller white beneath.
HONEY- LOCUST.
GLEDITSCHIA TRIACANTHOS, Willd. Sp. PI. vol. iv. p. 1097—Pursh. Fl. Amer. Sept.
vol. i. p. 221—POLYGAMIA DHECIA, Linn. LEGUMINOSJE,
See Vol. I. p. 226.
S T JOHN' S R I V E R IN FLORIDA.
Soon after landing at St Augustine, in East Florida, I formed acquaintance
with Dr SIMMONS, Dr POCHER, Judge SMITH, the Misses
JOHNSON, and other individuals, my intercourse with whom was as agreeable
as beneficial to me. Lieutenant CONSTANTINE SMITH, of the United
States army, I found of a congenial spirit, as was the case with my
amiable, but since deceased friend, Dr BELL of Dublin. Among the
planters who extended their hospitality to me, I must particularly mention
General HERNANDEZ, and my esteemed friend JOHN BULOW, Esq.
To all these estimable individuals I offer my sincere thanks.
While in this part of the peninsula, I followed my usual avocations,
although with little success, it being then winter. I had letters from the
Secretaries of the Navy and Treasury of the United States, to the commanding
officers of vessels of war of the revenue service, directing them
to afford me any assistance in their power; and the schooner Spark having
come to St Augustine, on her way to the St John's River, I presented
my credentials to her commander Lieutenant PIERCY, who readily
and with politeness, received me and my assistants on board. We soon
after set sail, with a fair breeze. The strict attention to duty on board
even this small vessel of war, afforded matter of surprise to me. Every
thing went on with the regularity of a chronometer: orders were given,
answered to, and accomplished, before they ceased to vibrate on the ear.
The neatness of the crew equalled the cleanliness of the white planks of
the deck; the sails were in perfect condition ; and, built as the Spark
was, for swift sailing, on she went gambolling from wave to wave.
I thought that, while thus sailing, no feeling but that of pleasure
could exist in our breasts; but, alas! how fleeting are our enjoyments
When we were almost at the entrance of the river, the wind changed,
the sky became clouded, and, before many minutes had elapsed, the little
bark was lying to " like a duck," as her commander expressed himself.
It blew a hurricane:—let it blow, reader. At the break of day we were
again at anchor within the bar of St Augustine.
Our next attempt was successful. Not many hours after we had
crossed the bar, we perceived the star-like glimmer of the light in the
great lantern at the entrance of the St John's River. This was before
T 2