rees had struck
root--thus forming islands, which are constantly increasing, and still
further narrowing the channel.

Leaving the Mosquito Inlet, we entered another lagoon, known as Indian
River, upwards of a hundred miles in length, and in some places only
sixty or seventy yards across, though in others three miles in width.
The most interesting objects on shore were the orange-groves, for which
the banks of the Indian River are celebrated. Some of the plantations
are of large size; and our skipper told us that one we were then passing
produced in good years a crop of more than a quarter of a million of
oranges.

One afternoon, the wind having dropped completely, we came to anchor off
a sandy point which afforded an easy landing-place. Our skipper having
lent us his boat, advised us to go on shore, and to make our way towards
the south, when, as he said, "we should see what we should see;" adding,
"Don't let your dogs get ahead of you, friends, or they will spoil your
sport."

Making our way in the direction pointed out, we saw before us a creek
falling into the lagoon. Extending some distance from it was a forest
of dead trees, the stems and branches bare and gaunt, crusted with
white, and supporting on their highest branches the roughly-constructed
nests of a vast colony of pelicans, the most curious-looking birds of
the feathered tribe.

As we approached the spot, our ears were assailed by a chorus of
discordant sounds, proceeding not only from pelicans, but from numerous
other aquatic birds collected on the shores of the creek. Holding back
our dogs, we made our way through a tangled wood, concealing ourselves
as much as possible, until we got within a short distance of the creek,
where we lay hid behind some bushes, whence, on looking through the
branches, we were rewarded with a most curious sight. An army of white
pelicans was drawn up in a row across the middle of the creek, the water
reaching half-way up their bodies, while they stood upright with their
necks raised in the air, evidently engaged in some important occupation,
in which they were so absorbed that they did not observe our approach.
They were apparently waiting in the attitude of attention for a signal
from a large, grave-looking old pelican, the chief of their band, who
stood on the shore ready to issue his orders. Presently we heard him
utter two loud cries in a hollow tone, which sounded like "Heou-korr,
heou-korr!" The instant the