2t'2 TIIK HITMAN SII)]<: OF lUHDS 



li.'in^^ under ils cIum cx.iclly like llie wliitc bands 

 rornuMly used by clcr^yimii lu'iice the name. 

 These iiilereslinn" limihltM-s work in teams of six to 

 ei^hl, and mny he seen on clear (hiys tumbling, 

 Avheelin,i>\ soaring, nnd droppino" in the air- -doing 

 everylhing known to the modern aviator, from 

 somersnnlls lo s.iiling upwnid suddenly hke a sky- 

 rocket, then closing their wings and supporting 

 themselves by a ra|)id beating of their tails, Aviiieh 

 suddenly ehnnges into a gliding [)nraehute descent. 

 'IMiey open their wings u[)on nearing the ground, 

 and thin either suddeidy arise again, or lly away 

 as if by a magic sign, and disap[)ear in the dis- 

 tance. 



The female plicasant is a wanderer, and has no 

 l)ermanent place o\' abode, except when she has a 

 nest, l)ut the cock is so devoted to his theatre, wlien 

 once it is ivstablished, that the Malays, who tlior- 

 tuighly understand his ways. taki> advantage of him 

 in a most ingenious manner. While he is away for 

 i'ood or recreation, they secretly enter his theatre or 

 drawing-room and drive a thin tough Innnlioo splin- 

 ter, as sharp as a ra'/.c>r, in the middle o[' the tloor. 

 As soon as the actor returns he seens the strange ol)- 

 jiH't and attempts ti^ n^nove it by ])ulling with his 

 bt\-dv. l)ut it will not come, nnd finally in despera- 

 ['\ou he wra]>s his neck annind it, and with a des- 



