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the inaize, Finches frequent the rice fields in thousands; Doves, 
hngivorons and insectivorous species are abundant. In the 
L'venin<i;, before dusk, they congregate on tlie sides of the river 
to drink before going to roost. 
The natives onh' vahie and keep birds for their song. 
Thrushes, Mocking-birds, and the better songsters among the 
Finches I)eing the birds principally kept in confinement. The 
Olive-backed Thrush appears to be a special favourite, and justly 
.so, for he is a sweet singer. It is just possible that this bird is a 
.species or sub-species confined to the island, as the British 
Museum authorities do not appear to be at all familiar with it, 
and it is not yet identified. The birds are caught by means of 
primitive wicker-made trap cages. All captive Finches are fed 
solely upon rice in the hu.sk. 
The ship sailed in due course, and late in 1906 we received 
a letter from the mate informing us that he had about a dozen 
birds on board, which from the descriptions given, consisted of 
Nonpareil and Indigo Buntings, other Finches probably Oryzo- 
boridcs or Spermopliilce, and a pair of Doves. On the voyage home, 
rats and the ship's cat accounted for all the Buntings and Finches. 
The Doves (which were large ones) were confined in very close 
quarters, but when the ship was well out at sea they were given 
their liberty. Often they made long flights, but like Noah's 
Dove, unable to find land, they always returned to the ship. 
They slept in the rigging, and came down on the deck to feed. 
When but two days' sail from England, their wings were clipped, 
and this proved their undoing, as both attempting to fly fell 
overboard, and were drowned. When the "John" arrived in 
port every cage was empty. 
Mr. Porter, profiting by his experience on the first voyage, 
made the .second attempt more of a success. His letter on sailing 
for home stated that he had " three brown birds about the size of 
Skylarks, two grey ones like Wagtails, seven small green ones, 
six small blue ones, and some small brown ones like vSparrows." 
His descriptions were delightfully vague, and one can imagine 
many kinds of birds to which they might apply. Out of this 
consignment fourteen birds reached us alive in June 1907. The 
large brown ones were the Thrushes I gave a short account of in 
