26 ACCIPITRES. STRIGIDyE. 



me more urgent on my lad, and after much per- 

 suasion, and the promise to procure ropes, and 

 assistance without delay, in case of need, he at 

 length sprang off, and slid down the tree. By 

 means of a long and tough smilax, which I after- 

 wards used to measure the depth, I passed down 

 to him in succession the gun and the basket; and 

 he proceeded to explore the dungeon. It was 

 evidently formed by nature; for from the over- 

 hanging sides depended stalactites of various sizes 

 and forms, in points and festoons, some of the small- 

 est of which he broke off; they were of a rough 

 dead-white surface, but the fracture displayed 

 shining crystals. In one corner were two or three 

 holes of less than a foot in diameter, into one of 

 which he thrust a stick several yards long ; it met 

 no bottom, and on being let go, instantly slid out 

 of sight. In another corner lay some immense 

 masses of stone, so large, as to leave a comparative- 

 ly small space beneath the rocky roof. On one 

 of these lay the object of the enterprise. The lad 

 having clambered up the rocks, was saluted on his 

 approach by a loud hissing from one of the ugliest 

 creatures he had ever beheld ; so that he hesitated 

 to touch it. I encouraged him, however ; for from 

 the top I could witness all that took place ; and he 

 at length opened the basket, and with a stick 

 tumbled the young bird in. Not the least vestige 

 of a nest, nor of any apology for one, was there ; 

 but the bird had reposed on a broad mass of half- 

 digested hair, mingled profusely with the bones of 

 rats and birds ; half of a rat lay there, freshly killed, 



