RED-LETTER BIRDS 125 



bestowed upon it by the blacks, " Calloo-calloo." As are 

 its visits so are its notes casual, coming in erratic bursts and 

 sudden sallies of whirling spiral sound. Its advent is hailed 

 with satisfaction, for the belief exists that it causes the bean- 

 tree the source of a much-esteemed food to grow more 

 quickly. This faith has a substantial origin, for shortly after 

 the bird's first fluty notes are heard the bean tree blossoms, 

 renewing the promise of plenty. While here, the " Calloo- 

 calloo," is remarkably shy, very rarely venturing out of the 

 seclusion of the thickest jungle, and warning off intruders 

 with a curious note of alarm, half purr, half hiss. 



When the clattering corcorax puts in an appearance 

 the blacks lift up their eyes unto the hills, firm in the 

 faith that the birds cause in them an increase in height, or 

 to put it in the vernacular " Look out. Mountain jump 

 up little bit ! " When the flame-tree flowers, it is to tell of 

 the coming of the nutmeg pigeon, when eggs and dainty 

 young are to be obtained with little trouble. 



Yet another red-letter time on the calendar is the lay- 

 ing season of the terns. Then the fancies of the blacks 

 lightly turn to thoughts of "Tan-goorah" (bonito) and 

 other strong-flavoured fish. So that the young shall not 

 lack, nor suffer hunger, the hatching is coincident with the 

 appearance of immense shoals of young fish which the 

 bonito perpetually harass, driving them to the surface for 

 the terns, with sharp screams of satisfaction, to dart upon. 

 What with the strong, far-leaping fish, and the agile, 

 acrobatic birds, the existence of the small fry is one of 

 perplexity and terror. 



Six species of tern take part in these gyrating, foraging 

 campaigns. Three show almost purely white as they fly ; 

 the others, less numerous, as dark flakes in the living 

 whirlwind. Ever changing in position and in poise some 

 on the swift seaward cast, some balancing for it with every 

 fraction of brake power exerted in beating wings and 

 expanded tail, some recovering equilibrium lost through a 

 fluky start, some dashing deep, some hurrying away (after 

 a spasmodic flutter of dripping feathers) with quivering 



