

OF LA PEROUSF.h X 75 



I here killed the beautiful fpecies of fiierops t in- 

 dicated by White under the denomination of 

 ivaitled bee-eater^ of which he lias given a good 

 drawing. This bird is remarkable for two large 

 appendages or wattles on each tide of the head. 



It was neceffary to prepare expcditioufly tlie 



in of the birds which I wifhed to preferve ; for 

 he flefh, when expofed to the air, was very foon 

 covered with fmall living Jarv.-e, which were 

 depolited there by flies of a fawn colour ; they 

 are viviparous, like thole known by the name 

 of mufca camaria. Thefe larva particularly ac- 

 celerated the putrefaction of flefh. 



As we were to fail *the next day, the 14th, I 

 endeavoured to turn to account thefe laft mo- 

 ments, and landed on the eaftern more of the 

 coafi neareft to the fliip. 



I accompanied the gardener to the ground 

 where he had fown different European feeds. 

 This fpot, which was very well dug for an ex- 

 tent of nine meters by feven, had been divided 

 into four patches ; it afforded a foil in which 

 lay was too predominant to enfure the fuccefs 

 of the feeds that had jufl been committed to it. 



After we had penetrated into the woods, a 

 quadruped, of the lize of a large dog, came out 

 of a bufh quite clofe to one of our fhipmates. 

 This animal, which was of a white colour Spot- 

 ted with black, had the appearance of a wild 



beaft. 



