Avifauna of New Caledonia. 359 



ping of a branch underfoot had scared it before a shot could 

 be obtained. 



We had now six birds on the stick ; and it was time we 

 returned to the rendezvous for our fair friend, who soon hove 

 in sight with her sable "Jehu," and immediately claimed the 

 Myiagra for her hat ! ! She was promised a far lovelier speci- 

 men, Myzomela sanguinolenta, one of which had gleamed like 

 a crimson flash before our eyes, — a promise^ we need hardly 

 say, faithfully kept. 



Such was our first hour's collecting in New Caledonia. 

 Ill health, and absence in Australia in consequence, has pre- 

 vented E. L. L. from again visiting Ansevata ; but L. L. has 

 has frequently made it the scene of his early morning pere- 

 grinations, and has reaped a fair harvest, of which we shall 

 write at another time. 



But some will ask, " How about the prohibition ^ Here 

 are H.M. Consul and the V.-C. breaking the laws \" Not 

 so fast, good brother ! We discovered the remains of a mu- 

 seum in the cellars of the " Maire ; " and we learned that the 

 Government was going to build two rooms for its reception ; 

 so we made the following offer to the Grovernment : — 



" If you will give us a special permit to shoot, we will 

 supply the museum with specimens, arrange and clean those 

 you have got, and otherwise help you ; and we will carefully 

 abstain from shooting any of the birds you have imported 

 to eat the locusts — Sparrows and "^^ Merles des lies Philippines" 

 (whatever these latter may be) ; and we will help you in im- 

 porting proper species for this work, having had some ex- 

 perience in this matter.'' His Excellency, Admiral Pritzbuer, 

 immediately acceded to our request, and armed us with a 

 "• permis special ;" and so we don't go '^poaching " any more ! 



The first occasion of showing the " permis " was charming. 

 Ij. L. was returning one morning with some birds on a stick, as 

 usual, when he was accosted by a gendarme, who requested 

 him to sell the " gibier " ! He wanted them to eat (these 

 fellows have eaten all the imported Pheasants, &c.) . On L. 

 L.'s refusing, the man, who was joined by the commandant 

 of the gendarmerie, suddenly bethought him of the illegality 



2b2 



