THE HAUNTS OF THE PARROT. 1 25 



trate our leafy grove. Meyong made but little fire, 

 just enough for the preparation of our coffee, for the 

 wary parrots would detect our whereabouts, and de- 

 part farther up the mountain. We heard the faint 

 cry of one, answered by another, far down the moun- 

 tain-side, and this stimulated us to extra haste in 

 departing. 



Coryet and Meyong were to descend by a ravine to 

 a valley, while I was to follow along the ridge a mile 

 or so, and take my stand beneath a tall tree which was 

 accurately described. I preferred going alone, as I 

 ever do when hunting, not only from the fact that less 

 noise would attend me, but that then I could indulge to 

 the full that communion with nature which the pres- 

 ence of a companion always interrupts, or rudely 

 breaks. 



It was still gloomy in the forest; a shower had 

 fallen during the night, and leaves, vines, and ferns 

 were heavy with moisture. Noiselessly I pursued my 

 way, indulging in that sweet reverie which solitude in 

 a great forest always excites. Suddenly there broke 

 upon the stillness the faint report of a gun. This at 

 once stirred the blood in my veins, as my boys had 

 promised not to shoot at any other bird than the im- 

 perial parrot, and I hoped that this announced the 

 capture of one. Impatiently resting beneath the huge 

 tree, and concealing myself in a bower of orchids and 

 hanging ferns, I waited for something to appear. 

 Soon the harsh screams of parrots broke upon my 

 ear, and a flock of ten or twelve swept through the 

 woods like a whirlwind, just beyond range. They 

 were the small green parrot, another species, but 

 equally desirable with the larger. Then all was still 



