THE PIE KIND. 



523 



two feet nine inches, being of a deep blark, 

 while the feathered extremity is of a change- 

 able colour, like the mallard's neck. 



This bird, which for beauty exceeds all 

 oth-Ts of the pie kind, is a native of the Mo- 

 lucca Islands, but found in greatest numbers 

 in that of Aro. There, in the delightful and 

 spicy woods of the country, do these beautiful 

 creatures fly in large flocks ; so that the groves 

 which produce the richest spices produce the 

 finest birds also. The inhabitants themselves 

 are not insensible of the pleasure these afford, 

 and give them the name of God's birds, as he- 

 ing superior to all others that he lias made. 

 They live in large flocks, and at night gene- 

 rally perch upon the same tree. They are 

 called by some, the swallows of Ternate, from 

 their rapid flight, and from thoir being con- 

 tinually on the wing in pursuit of insects, their 

 usual prey. 



As the country where they are bred has its 

 tempestuous season, when rains and thunders 

 continually disturb the atmosphere, these birds 

 are then but seldom seen. It is thought that 

 they then fly to other countries, where their 

 food appears in greater abundance ; for, like 

 swallows, they have their stated times of re- 

 turn. In the beginning of the month of August, 

 they are seen in great numbers flying together; 



and, as the inhabitants would have us believe, 

 following their king, who is distinguished from 

 the rest by the lustre of his plumage, and that 

 respect and veneration which is paid him. In 

 the evening they perch upon the highest trees 

 of the forest, particularly one which bears a 

 red berry, upon which they sometimes feed, 

 when other food fails them. In what 

 manner they breed, or what may be the 

 number of their young, as yet remains for dis- 

 covery. 



The natives, who make a trade of killing 

 and selling these birds to the Europeans, gene- 

 rally conceal themselves in the trees \vhere 

 they resort, and having covered themselves up 

 fro.n sight in a bower made of the branches, 

 they shoot at the birds with reedy arrows ; 

 and, as they assert, if they happen to kill the 

 king, they then have a good chance for killing 

 the greatest part of the flock. The chief 

 marks by which they know the king is by the 

 ends of the feathers in his tail, which have eyes 

 like those of a peacock. When they have 

 taken a number of these birds, their usual 

 method is to gut them, and cut off their legs; 

 they then run a hot iron into the body, which 

 dries up the infernal moisture ; and, filling the 

 cavity with salts and spices, they sell them to 

 the Europeans for a perfect trifle. 



CHAPTER Cin. 



THE CUCKOO, AND ITS VARIETIES. 



FROM a bird of which many fables have 

 been reported, we pass to another that has not 

 given less scope to fabulous invention. The 

 note of the cuckoo is known to all the world ; 

 the history and nature of the bird itself still re- 

 mains in great obscurity. That it devours its 

 parent, that it changes its nature with the sea- 

 son, and becomes a sparrow-hawk, were 

 fables invented of this bird, and are now 

 sufficiently refuted. But where it resides in 

 winter, or how it provides for its supply during 

 that season, still continues undiscovered. 



This singular bird, which is somewhat less 

 than a pigeon, shaped like a magpie, and of 



MO. 45 St 46 



a grayish colour, is distinguished from all other 

 birds by its round prominent nostrils. Having 

 disappeared all the winter, it discovers itself in 

 our country early in the spring, by its well- 

 known call. Its note is heard earlier or later, 

 as the season seems to be more or less for- 

 ward, and the weather more or less inviting. 

 From the cheerful voice of this bird the farmer 

 niay be instructed in the real advancement of 

 the year. The fallibility of human calendars 

 is but too well known ; but fivm this bird's 

 note, the husbandman may be taught when to 

 sow his most useful seeds, and to do such 

 work as depends upon a certain temperature 



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