24:6 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF HTE 



of the tallest trees, and are so tossed about by the wind, that 

 if not for their length, the birds would be thrown out. These 

 birds imitate many other songsters : whence their name. 

 Their peculiar notes are very sweet, which is a rare quality here, 

 where the greater number of the birds excel rather in the 

 beauty of their plumage, than in the music of their voices. 



The rice bird is about the size of the mocking bird. The 

 feathers on every part of its body are black. Its bill is conical 

 and gibbous. It has small black eyes, and the skin immedi- 

 ately around the eye is without feathers and white. It is 

 commonly met with in the fields of rice. 



The kishee-kishee, as it is called by the natives, is more 

 lavishly decorated with splendid plumage, than any other 

 known bird. It is about the size of a sparrow, with a straight 

 conical pointed bill of a light red colour; Its plumage is 

 adorned with the greatest beauty, splendor, and variety of 

 colours, which are so mixed together, as to afford the eye of 

 the beholder the greatest possible pleasure which can be re- 

 ceived from colour. These birds are not found near the coast, 

 but are brought from the inland parts of the country by the 

 Indians. 



The green sparrow is a beautiful bird. The head and back 

 are green, the breast and belly are yellow, and the large fea- 

 thers on the wings are edged with white. 



