276 PIGEONS AND PARROTS. 
I must yet mention two more articles of our 
marketing—namely, tame pigeons and parrots. 
The former are widely different from those of 
Europe both in shape and in the splendour of 
their plumage; their claws are also differently 
formed. The parrots are not larger than a 
sparrow, of a lively green and red, with red 
tails more than four times the length of their 
whole bodies. All these birds, of which great 
numbers were brought to us, were so tame, 
that they would sit quietly on the hand of 
their master, and receive their food from his 
mouth ; the inclination for taming them, and 
the method of treatment, is favourable evidence 
of the mildness which characterises this people. 
How many other unknown plants and ani- 
mals may exist among these islands, where 
Nature is so profuse! and how much is it to 
be regretted that no secure anchorage can be 
found, which would enable an Huropean expe- 
dition to effect a landing with proper precau- 
tions. Some idea may be formed of the dense 
population of the Flat Island, from the fact 
that, small as is its extent, above sixty canoes, 
each containing seven or eight men, came to us 
