io5 TRAVELS IN 
While fucli were my ickas, a bird of a new 
fpecies would have appeared more valuable to 
me than a dozen elephants. I began, there- 
fore, to traverfe toe foreft ; and 1 had the fatif- 
fadion to kill two- charming animals of the 
feathered race, a male and a female. They 
confiderably refemble the fpecies of the ring- 
dove, though the difference is fufficient, in 
my opinion, to entitle them to a feparate clafs^ 
as they have a bill much larger than pigeons in 
general. Their claws are alfo more hooked, 
and their toes broader and flatter. In fhort, 
iKe moil beautiful colours ornament their 
plumage, which, on the body, is, in general, 
of a brilliant green. The feathers of the wings 
are bordered v^ith an elegant jonquille yellow, 
which is alfo the colour of the belly of the 
male. On the top of each wing is a large 
violet fpot ; and the feet of both are red. 
This charming fpecies, entirely new, will form 
a part of my ornithology, in which I (hall give 
figures of them both. 
The fkirt of wood near which I had en- 
camped lay in a dirediion N. ^ W. which was 
that of my route ; and, by keeping along the 
edge of it, I knew I ihould arrive at the horde 
I in- 
