350 Mr. E. Newton on the Land-Birds 



quarter of a mile up to our middle in the sea to avoid the 

 rocks which jut out below high water. Besides sea-birds nothing 

 particular was to be seen; and about 11 o'clock^ having shot 

 three Whimbrels, we stopped for breakfast, as we found a 

 fisherman's hut whence our men could borrow pots and pans. 

 One of the men returning from foraging told me he had 

 heard a " Pie " about half a mile further on ; and after break- 

 fast we again started, proceeding to the Protestant church and 

 school, where an intelligent youth told me, in fair French, that 

 the " Pie" was not uncommon at this spot in the early morning 

 and in the afternoon, but that they did not sing or show themselves 

 during the middle of the day. We went on about a quarter of 

 a mile further to where there was a splendid grove of cocoa-nuts, 

 one or two very fine badamiers, and a few cedres ; and there we 

 stayed till it was time to return home, without hearing or seeing 

 a single " Pie." When about halfway back, however, I heard 

 a very plaintive whistle, and my man at once exclaimed " Pie, 

 Pie!" and I soon saw the bird hopping about in a large badamier, 

 where I shot it. It proved to be a male, and some people living 

 near said there was also a female about ; but we did not see her. 

 We got to Mr. CampbelPs after dark, and had some little trouble 

 to scramble down the steep side of the hill at the back of his 

 house in the dusky light. 



On the 10th February we started early, and walked some 

 three miles till we were nearly opposite to Curieuse, a small 

 island situated about a mile from the coast of Praslin. On our way 

 we passed the place where I had before shot the " Veuves ; " and 

 I killed one in brown plumage, which, on dissection, proved to 

 be a male. I also saw a " Pie," which I missed. 



Formerly all the lepers from Mauritius and its dependencies 

 were sent to Curieuse ; but of late years the practice has been dis- 

 continued, and now there were only three of these unfortunates 

 and a few old decrepit paupers from Mahe and the other islands. 

 These people are under the care of Mr. George Forbes, who has 

 resided there for many years. We reached the island in a 

 pirogue, which was rowed by our own men, the narrow strait 

 which divides it from Praslin being only a mile wide. At the 

 present time there are very few double cocoa-nuts left, but the 



