1818 Birds. 



its tail. Now and then it would stop, and make repeated efforts to jump over the 

 skirting-board, which being black, and the wall white, I suppose it mistook the latter 

 for empty space. While doing this, it ever and anon emitted its loud pipe, with start- 

 ling shrillness. Having run into a corner, it allowed me to take it up in my hand 

 without fluttering. When it stood, it jerked its head up and down. It was exceed- 

 ingly active; when not lying close for concealment it was not still a moment; besides 

 the flirting of the head and tail, a tremulous motion pervaded the body, so that it 

 seemed to be shivering. When about to take a single step, this was manifested in an 

 odd manner, the foot touching the ground three or four times before it was put down. 

 When it had become more at home, it devoured earth-worms greedily, and would pick 

 minute shells and Entomostraca from a saucer of water, in which was a root of water- 

 cress. In the cage, it delighted to stand in its water-saucer, but when loose, the sau- 

 cer being placed in one corner, it would run rapidly in and out, now and then stopping 

 to pick up the contents." — p. 331. 



" The Sultana {Porphyrio Martinica). — " I was struck with the remarkable ele- 

 gance of one that I saw by the road-side, about midway between Savanna-le-Mar and 

 Bluefields. It was at one of those pieces of dark water called blue-holes, reputed to 

 be unfathomable. The surface was covered with the leaves and tangled stems of va- 

 rious water-plants, and on these the sultana was walking, supported by its breadth of 

 foot, so that the leaves on which it trod sank only an inch or two, notwithstanding 

 that the bird, according to its usual manner, moved with great deliberation, fre- 

 quently standing still, and looking leisurely on either side. As it walked over to where 

 the water was less encumbered, it became more immersed, until it seemed to be swim- 

 ming, yet even then, from the motion of its legs, it was evidently walking, either on 

 the bottom, or on the yielding plants. At the margin of the pool it stood some time, 

 in a dark nook overhung by bushes, where its green and purple hues were finely thrown 

 out by the dark back ground. I could not help thinking what a beautiful addition it 

 would make to an ornamental water in an English park ; and the more so, because its 

 confiding tameness allows of approach sufficiently near to admire its brilliancy. Nor 

 are its motions void of elegance ; the constant jerking of its pied tail is perhaps rather 

 singular than admirable, but the bridling of its curved and lengthened neck, and the 

 lifting of its feet are certainly graceful." — p. 378. 



The Rufous -necked Pelican (Pelecanus fuscus). — " It is a pleasant sight to see a 

 flock of pelicans fishing. A dozen or more are flying, on heavy, flagging wing, over 

 the sea, the long neck doubled on the back, so that the beak seems to protrude from 

 the breast. Suddenly, a little ruffling of the water arrests their attention ; and, with 

 wings half-closed, down each plunges with a resounding plash, and in an instant 

 emerges to the surface with a fish. The beak is held aloft, a snap or two is made, the 

 huge pouch is seen for a moment distended, then collapses as before ; and heavily the 

 bird rises to wing, and again beats over the surface with its fellows. It is worthy of 

 observation that the pelican invariably performs a somerset under the surface ; for 

 descending, as he always does, diagonally, not perpendicularly, the head emerges 

 looking in the opposite direction to that in which it was looking before. When the 

 morning appetite is sated, they sit calmly on the heaving surface, looking much like a 

 miniature fleet. 



" In the evening, as I have stated, we sec them pursuing their laborious course to 

 repose. Standing at the door of Bluefields, which, from a slight elevation, commands 

 a wide prospect of the beautiful bay, I have often watched in the evening, while the 



