BIRD LIFE 135 



inland ; but although we searched the locality thoroughly, we 

 failed to obtain more pronounced signs of occupation. 



The forest abounded in life. Nearly every morning — generally 

 the first bird obtained, and only seen thus early — a beautiful pitta 

 was shot. Nicobar pigeons, sometimes in large flocks, every now 

 and then rose with loud flight from the ground, where they were 

 busy searching for food ; for, unlike the big grey fruit-pigeons, 

 with green-bronze back and wings {CarpopJiaga insularis), these 

 birds are ground-feeders. The little brown RJiinomyias was 

 very plentiful, as was the tiny kingfisher, Ceyx tridactyla, a most 

 gorgeous bird, with coral - red feet and bill, and plumage of 

 brilliant yellow, orange, blue, and lilac. 



In a deep rocky ravine (that in the wet season must be filled 

 with running water), arched over with tall jungle trees, and 

 containing beautiful tree ferns, whose waving heads rose above 

 the edge, I shot our first full-plumaged specimen of the Nicobar 

 fly-catcher. Though not of brilliant colouration — for the slightly- 

 crested head is of steely blue -black hue, and the remaining 

 plumage of a silky-white (saving the large feathers of the wings, 

 which are delicately pencilled with black, and the quills and 

 edges of the tail feathers, the two central being several inches 

 long, which are marked with the same colour), with blue bill 

 and feet — this bird is to me perhaps the most beautiful of all the 

 Nicobar avifauna ; and while there are many of far more gorgeous 

 plumage, none can approach it in delicacy, and the quiet beaut)' 

 of its colouring. 



Tracks of pig were very numerous in the low ground, and 

 we often met with herds of monkeys making their way through 

 the jungle ; no rats, however, were trapped in this place, although 

 crabs were scarcer than usual. 



Water we obtained on the east side of the basin, just within 

 the sandbar, but we had some difficulty in discovering it. The 

 skipper, while engaged in the search, reported having found a 

 number of spiked stakes planted in the jungle, similar to the 

 ranjozus of the Dyaks. 



An old man, named Barawang, arrived one day in a canoe. 



