Introductory. 39 
and fired, and I need not say that it was through 
considerable luck the pigeon dropped dead on the 
spot without a movement, which fact alone prevented 
it from falling overboard at once. I succeeded in 
getting it before the strong movement of the vessel 
had caused it to roll overboard, and found, after 
careful investigation, that the bullet had just merely 
touched the upper part of its skull, so slightly that 
some few feathers only had been disordered, while 
the bullet had just made impression enough on the 
bone of the skull to kill the bird instantaneously. I 
was glad that 
another pigeon 
Ud not arrive 
for me to prove 
that there was 
no luck in my 
first shot! 
Arriving at 
Miadecira the 
commander of 
H.I.M. man-of- 
war 4D Nixie 
called on me 
En board the 
Southern Cross 
23 visit which 
I was pleased 
fy return the 
next day, as well 
as paying my official visit to Her Britannic Majesty’s 
Consul-General in Funchal. 
My staff were delighted to get on shore. They 
CALM WEATHER. 
