286 TRAVELS IN 
malned motlonlefs, liftening to the mufic of 
my leaf, which was altogether new to him. 
In defert countries, an animal that has 
never beheld a human being fees one for the 
firil time without alarm, particularly if the 
individual it perceives be in a ftate of reft and 
do not move. 
Whatever might have been the motive of the 
bird's familiarity, its boldnefs fo furprifed me, 
that, mechanically and without refledion, I 
pulled the trigger, and the gun went off. I 
fuppofed the bird would have been torn in a 
thoufand pieces : but, to my great aftonifliment, 
I faw it carried up thirty feet above my head. 
In an almoft perpendicular diredlion, and fall a, 
few paces from m.e. 
I ran to pick it up. The ends of its quill 
feathers vv^ere a little fcorched, and it appeared 
panting and extremely frightened ; but by 
degrees it recovered, and, after I had fatisfied 
myfelf that it had received no wound, I gave 
it its hberty, and it Sew away without appear- 
ing to be in the leaft injured. It is probable 
that the column of air vs^hich filled the barrel, 
being driven out by the explofion, firft (truck 
the bird, which, by a fingle motion of its 
Vv^ings, 
