MODE OF FRIGHTENING BIRDS. 81 



natives have a very simple and effective mode of 

 dri^-ing them away. In the midst of a field a little 

 bamboo house, sufficient to shelter its occupant from 

 the rain and scorching sunshine, is perched high up 

 on poles above the rice-stalks. Around each field are 

 placed rows of tall, flexible stakes, which are con- 

 nected together by a string. Many radiating lines of 

 such stakes extend from the house to those along the 

 borders, and the child or old person on watch has 

 simply to pull any set of these lines in order to 

 firighten away the birds from any part of the field. 

 There are seven species of owls, and when the hooting 

 of one is heard near any house, many of the natives 

 believe that sickness or some other misfortune will 

 certainly come to the inmates of that dwelling. Of 

 eagles and falcons, or kites, eight species are men- 

 tioned. One of the kites is very abundant at all the 

 anchorages, and so tame as to light on the rigging of a 

 ship quite near where the sailors are working. AAHien 

 it has caught any offal in its long talons, it does not 

 fly away at once to a perch to consume the delicious 

 morsel at its leisure, like many birds of prey, but is 

 so extremely greedy that it tears off' pieces with its 

 beak and swallows them as it slowly sails along in 

 the air. 



When we begin to examine the luxuriant flora 

 of these tropical islands, almost the first tree that we 

 notice hj the shore is the tall, graceful cocoa-nut palm. 

 Occasionally it is found in small clumps, far from 

 the abode of man, for instead of being reared by his 

 care, it often comes to maturity alone, and then in- 

 vites him to take up his abode beneath its shade, by 

 6 



