THE COMPLETED ATOLL. 399 
vated coral island, Metia, north of Tahiti (p. 193), 250 feet 
above the sea, sugar-cane and bread-fruit and many plants 
of the Society Group occur. 
The tropical birds of the islands are often more in keep- 
ing with the beautiful scenery about them than the savage 
inhabitants. On one atoll, — Honden Island, of the Paumo- 
tus, — where no natives had ever dwelt, the birds were so 
innocent of fear, that we took them from the trees as we 
would fruit ; and many a songster lost a tail feather, as it sat 
perched on a branch, apparently unconscious that the world 
contained an enemy. Our ornithologist went ashore with 
powder and shot. But the sportsman could find no pleasure 
in shooting; indeed he could help himself without. 
During a ramble over the island I came across a noble 
bird as white as snow and nearly as large as an albatross. 
In my zeal for science I began to contemplate it as a very 
fine specimen — indeed, a magnificent specimen; and although 
it was not my special line of research, it seemed a failure of 
duty to neglect the opportunity to secure it. By a simple 
process, the work of death is easily accomplished. I went 
up to him. He stood still, not offering to fly. I commenced 
to carry out my plan. A slight point of blood soiled the 
white plumage, and my zeal gave out. It was another's part 
to serve as executioner, not mine; and stroking down his 
feathers and wishing him well, I hurried away. But as I 
glanced back from time to time, on my retreat, there the 
bird stood, his eye still fixed upon me, and that reproachful 
look followed me until a far-off grove came in between us. 
I take it the bird recovered, as I shared not the fate of the 
“Ancient Mariner.” 
Ever since, the words of the old Mariner have seemed 
to rise in melody from that island Paradise : — 
