396 PIPIRY FLYCATCHER.
the breast and sides pale grey, the lower tail-coverts tinged with yellow,
as are the lower wing-coverts.
Length 8 | inches, extent of wings 1 4 | ; bill along the ridge lft, along
the edge lft ; tarsus T
9
2 .
The Female resembles the Male, but is somewhat smaller, and the
bright spot on the head is paler.
The leguminous plant of which a twig is represented in the plate, is
one of the handsomest productions of Key West, where I found it in full
flower in the month of May. It reaches the height of twenty feet or
more, and has a rather vslender, but elegant stem, of which the wood is as
brittle as that of our common acacias. The pods are eight or nine inches
in length, and of the size of a swan's quill; the seeds, which are darkbrown
when ripe, glossy and globular, lie at regular intervals. The deep
green of the long pendulous leaves, and the bright red of the large papilionaceous
flowers, form a beautiful contrast. Many of these trees were
planted near the house of my friend Dr BENJAMIN STROBEL, under whose
hospitable roof the twig was drawn. I saw no plants of the species on
any other Key.
( 397 )
THE BURNING OF THE FORESTS.
W I T H what pleasure have I seated myself by the blazing fire of some
lonely cabin, when, faint with fatigue, and chilled with the piercing blast,
had forced my way to it through the drifted snows that covered the
face of the country as with a mantle ! The affectionate mother is hushing
her dear babe to repose, while a group of sturdy children surround their
father, who has just returned from the chase, and deposited on the rough
flooring of his hut the varied game which he has procured. The great
back log, that with some difficulty has been rolled into the ample chimney,
urged, as it were, by lighted pieces of pine, sends forth a blaze of
light over the happy family. The dogs of the hunter are already licking
away the trickling waters of the thawing icicles that sparkle over
their shaggy coats, and the comfort-loving cat is busied in passing her
furry paws over each ear, or with her rough tongue smoothing her glossy
coat.
How delightful to me has it been, when kindly received and hospitably
treated under such a roof, by persons whose means were as scanty
as their generosity was great, I have entered into conversation with them
respecting subjects of interest to me, and received gratifying information.
When the humble but plentiful repast was ended, the mother would take
from the shelf the Book of books, and mildly request the attention of her
family while the father read aloud a chapter. Then to Heaven would ascend
their humble prayers, and a good-night would be bidden to all
friends far and near. How comfortably have I laid my wearied frame on
the buffalo hide, and covered me with the furry skin of some huge bear !
How pleasing have been my dreams of home and happiness, as I there
lay secure from danger, and sheltered from the inclemency of the weather.
I recollect that once while in the State of Maine, I passed such a night
as I have described. Next morning the face of nature was obscured by
the heavy rains that fell in torrents, and my generous host begged me to
remain in such pressing terms, that I was well content to accept his offer.
Breakfast over, the business of the day commenced : the spinning wheels
went round, and the boys employed themselves, one in searching for
knowledge, another in attempting to solve some ticklish arithmetical problem.
In a corner lay the dogs dreaming of plunder, while close to the