THE HAUNTS OF THE PARROT. 125 



trate our leafy grove. Meyong made but little fire, 

 just enough for the preparation of our coffee, for the 

 wary parrots would detect our whereabouts, and de- 

 part farther up the mountain. We heard the faint 

 cry of one, answered by another, far down the moun- 

 tain-side, and this stimulated us to extra haste ifl 

 departing. 



Coryet and Meyong were to descend by a ravine to 

 a valley, while I was to follow along the ridge a mile 

 or so, and take my stand beneath a tall tree which was 

 accurately described. I preferred going alone, as I 

 ever do when hunting, not only from the fact that less 

 noise would attend me, but that then I could indulge to 

 the full that communion with nature which the pres- 

 ence of a companion always interrupts, or rudely 

 breaks. 



It was still gloomy in the forest; a shower had 

 fallen during the night, and leaves, vines, and ferns 

 were heavy with moisture. Noiselessly I pursued my 

 way, indulging in that sweet reverie which solitude in 

 a great forest always excites. Suddenly there broke 

 upon the stillness the faint report of a gun. This at 

 once stirred the blood in my veins, as my boys had 

 promised not to shoot at any other bird than the im- 

 perial parrot, and I hoped that this announced the 

 capture of one. Impatiently resting beneath the huge 

 tree, and concealing myself in a bower of orchids and 

 hanging ferns, I waited for something to appear. 

 Soon the harsh screams of parrots broke upon my 

 ear, and a flock of ten or twelve swept through the 

 woods like a whirlwind, just beyond range. They 

 were the small green parrot, another species, but 

 equally desirable with the larger. Then all was still 



