208 TRAVELS IN THE BAST INDIAN ARCHrPELAGO, 



the natives aaaeit tliat the seed was brought there 

 from Java by one of the sovereigns of Tanete. It is 

 therefore uncertain whether the teak is a native of 

 this island. lu the early morning, and again soon 

 after sunsetj flocks of large g^een parrots, Ta/nyg- 

 Tuzthm maerart/Twhmj WagL, come to these trees 

 to feed on the fi-uit which is now npe. They are so 

 wary that it is extremely ilifficult to get near them/ 

 especially as the large dry leaves of this tree cover 

 the ground and continnally crack and rustle beneath 

 one's feet. To see these magniiicent birds ilying 

 back and forth in the highest glee, while they re- 

 main unconscious of danger, is a grand sight, and it 

 seems little less than absolute wickedness to shoot 

 one, even when it is to be made the subject, not of 

 idle gazing, but of carefnl study, and it requires still 

 greater resolution to put an end to one's admiration 

 and pull the fetal trigger. When one of these bii'da 

 has been wounded, its mate, and sometimes the whole 

 flock, healing its cries, at once comes back, as if hop- 

 ing to relieve its misery. 



In many places in this vicinity the tall canari* 

 tree is seen raising its high crest, and there flocks of 

 cream-colored doves, Carpopliaga luctuosa^ gathei 

 to feed on its fi'uit. Their loud, continuous cooing 

 leads the hunter a long way through the jungle. 

 Among the limbs of the lower trees ai-e seen the 

 long-tailed doves, Owipoplmga perspiclata. On the 

 banks of the diy brook, near oui- house, are bunches 

 of bamboos, through which flit fly-catchers, Mm- 

 cicapidm^ and the beautiful Moiumjim loricata^ a 

 slender bii'd about as large as a martin, of a blue 



