Page:Ornithological biography, or an account of the habits of the birds of the United States of America, vol 2.djvu/418



It was at Key West that I first saw this beautiful Pigeon. The Marion was brought to anchor close to, and nearly opposite, the little town of the same name, some time after the setting of the sun. The few flickering lights I saw nearly fixed the size of the place in my imagination. In a trice, the kind captain and 1 were seated in his gig, and I felt the onward movement of the light bark as if actually on wing, so well timed was the pulling of the brave tars who were taking us to the shore. In this place I formed acquaintance with Major Glassel of the United States Artillery, and his family,of Dr Benjamin STROBEL,and several other persons, to whom I must ever feel grateful for the kind attention which they paid to me and my assistants, as well as for the alacrity with which they aided me in procuring rare specimens not only of birds, but also of shells and plants, most of which were unknown to me. Indeed — I can- not too often repeat it — the facilities afforded me by our Government, during my latter journeys and voyages, have been so grateful to my feel- ings, that I have frequently thought that circumstance alone quite suf- ficient to induce even a less ardent lover of nature to exert himself to the utmost in repaying the favour.

Major Glassel sent one of his Serjeants with me to search the whole island, with which he was perfectly acquainted. The name of this soldier was Sykes, and his life, like mine, had been a chequered one ; for there are few pleasures unaccompanied with pains, real or imaginary, and the worthy sergeant had had his share of both. I soon discovered that he was a perfect woodsman, for although we traversed the densest thickets, in close and gloomy weather, he conducted me quite across the island, in as masterly a manner as ever did an Indian on a like occasion. — But perhaps, kind reader, a copy of my journal for that day, may afford you a clearer idea of our search for rare birds, than any other means that I could devise. Before I proceed, however, allow me to state, that, while at Charleston, in South Carolina, I saw at my friend Bachman's house