A FLOCK OF PARROTS. 321 



under whose grateful shadow the traveller may journey 

 for miles, and scarcely feel the toil of the steep ascent. 



Here, where the calcareous rock recedes from the 

 perpendicular, and forms a steep slope, allowing the 

 growth of trees, though the ground is covered with 

 irregular blocks of broken stone, elegant species of 

 shelled moUusca, snails, and similar creatures, abound. 

 A limestone region is essential to the abundance of 

 these animals, because it enters so largely into the 

 composition of their shells. As we ride by, we see 

 the beautiful shells, many of them of porcellaneous 

 polish, and exquisitely painted in bands and stripes 

 of colour, or most delicately sculptured, clinging 

 to the leaves of the trees ; and if we were to turn over 

 the loose stones we should find them in wonderful 

 variety and number, sheltered from the heat of the 

 sun in those cool and moist retreats ; for, as with our 

 own homely kinds, night is the appointed season of 

 their activity. 



Yonder floats by a flock of Parrots with a most 

 abominable combination of harsh screams. It is the 

 Yellow-bill, intent on a new feeding-ground. Like 

 an immense Indian shawl spread in the air, the com- 

 pact flock speeds by, all on the same level, but un- 

 dulating ; as each bird presents a plumage of golden 

 green, with azure wings, and scarlet tail-webs, the 

 sunbeams playing over the array of colours has a 

 charming effect. There the bright cloud settles on a 

 cordia-tree, whose profuse scarlet berries give a ruddy 

 hue to it even at this distance ; but which are destined 



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