CHAP. XX.] SOCTJl LIFE. 291) 



azure blue. The tail is white, witli the featli^rs narrowly 

 blue-edged, but the narrow part of the loug feathers 13 

 ricb blue. This was au entirely new species, and has been 

 well named after an ocean goddess^ by Mr. G. Tt. Gray. 



On Christmas eve I returned to Amboyna, wliere I 

 stayed about ten days with my kind friend Dr. Alohnike. 

 Considering that 1 had been away only twenty days, and 

 that on live or six of those I was prevented doing any- 

 thing by wet weather and slight attacks of fever, I bad 

 made aVery nice collection of insects, comprising a much 

 larger proportion of Ini-ge and brilliant species than I had 

 ever before obt^xined in so abort a time. Of the beautiful 

 metallic Buprcstidie I had about a dozen handsome species, 

 yet in the doctor's collection 1 obsen'ed four or five more 

 very fine ones, so that Amboyna ia unusually rich in this 

 elegant group. 



During my stay here I liad a good opportunity of seeing 

 how Europeans live in the Dutch colonies, where they 

 have adopted customs far more in accordance with the 

 climate than we have done in our trapical possessions. 

 Almost all business is transacted in the morning between 

 the hours of seven and twelve, the afternoon being given 

 up to repose, and the evening to visiting. When in the 

 house during the heat of the day, and even at dinner, 

 tbev use a loose cotton dress, only putting on a suit of thin 

 Europeaii-made clothes, for out of doors and evening wear. 

 Tliey often walk about after sunset bareheaded, reserving 

 the black bat Ibr visits of ceremony. Life is thus made 

 far more agreeable, and the fatigue and discomfort in- 

 cident to the climate greatly diniinisbed. Christmas day 

 is not made much of, but on New Year's day official and 

 complimentary visits are paid, and about sunset we went 

 to the Governors, where a large party of ladies and gen- 

 tlemen were assembled. Tea and coflee were handed 

 round, aa is almost universal during a visit, as well 

 as cigars, for on no occasion is smoking prohibited in 

 Dutch colonies, cigars being generally light^id before the 

 cloth is withdrawn at dinner, even though half .the 

 company are ladies. I here saw for the tirsfc time the 

 rare black lory from New Guinea, Chalcopsitta iitriL 

 The plumage is rather glossy, and slightly tinged with 



