120 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



of pigeons, and not to be compared with ground or aquatic 

 game. 



Fruit-eaters 



The tyrannical fig-tree of the species referred to elsewhere, 

 in full fruit — pink in colouring until it attains purple ripeness 

 — attracts birds from all parts, and for nearly a quarter of 

 the year is as gay as a theatre. From sunset to sunrise 

 birds feast and flirt with but brief interludes. A general 

 dispersal of the assemblage occurs only in the tragic 

 presence of a falcon, whose murderous deeds are transiently 

 recorded by stray painted feathers. But the fright soon 

 passes, and the magnificent fruit pigeon — green, golden- 

 yellow, purplish-maroon, rich orange, bluish-grey, and 

 greenish-yellow, are his predominant colours — resumes his 

 love-plaint in bubbling bass. "Bub-loo, bub-loo maroo," 

 he says over and over again in unbirdlike tone, without 

 emphasis or lilt. " Bub-loo, bub-loo maroo," a grievance, a 

 remonstrance and a threat in one doleful phrase ; but to the 

 flattered female it is all compliment and gallantry. That 

 other, known as the allied — so like his cousin that his dis- 

 sonant accents, " quok — quok — quoo," are more to be relied 

 upon as ready means of identification than any striking differ- 

 ence in plumage ; the white-headed, the pheasant-tail, the 

 gorgeous " superb," the tranquil dove, Ewing's fruit pigeon — 

 most timorous of the order — are regular patrons, and each 

 of the family has the distinctive demeanour and note. All 

 save the allied — which is too full of assurance and fruit to be 

 disconcerted by the presence of man — may flutter into the 

 jungle, and then, as the momentary disturbance subsides, a 

 study, whimsical and rich, begins. 



With one exception the fruit pigeons, however gay the 

 colouring of the throat and breast and under parts generally, 

 are green of back, that passing falcons may be deceived by 

 resemblance to leafy environment. Yet the " superb " and 

 Ewing's and Swainson's have the richest of crowns — crowns 

 pink, or shimmering rosy purple. Why thjs fanciful decora- 



