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New Guinea in search of Paradise-birds. 
majority of its members being French. Our vessel dropped 
anchor opposite this spot, where the surrounding views 
were very picturesque. We soon landed our packages, and 
Mr. N. Ii. M. Bowden, the Resident Magistrate, most 
hospitably entertained us and gave us all the assistance in 
his power. After a few days’ delay, during which we 
unpacked our stores and arranged them into convenient 
loads for porterage, we “ signed on” six more “ boys ” as 
gun-bearers and in other capacities. Our kind host had sent 
word across to the mainland that we required canoes to 
transport us to Bioto. This place lies about nine miles from 
the mouth of the Ethel River, which flows into Hall Sound 
opposite the south point of Yule Island. Judicial business 
demanded the Magistrate’s presence in Bioto, and we 
accompanied him thither, returning late the same day. The 
heat on the fine river I found very trying, but its beauty was 
marvellous, though the amount of bird-life hardly equalled 
our expectations. One or two large Eagles sailed over 
the many swamps which concealed the river’s banks, whilst 
the passage of the whale-boat disturbed Jacanas, Shell- 
ducks, Cormorants, Blue Coots, White Egrets, and a variety 
of Waders. 
We had frequent shots at crocodiles, which slid into the 
water unharmed, until we were about to turn up a tributary, 
at which spot I severely wounded a specimen about five feet 
in length, and as it dived Bowden finished it. On arriving at 
Bioto we passed the time in collecting butterflies and a few 
birds, which included a small Parrot, some Wood- Swallows, and 
Jacanas, as well as a fine Blue Coot, which one of the mission¬ 
aries shot for me in a swamp. An amusing scene occurred 
ere our return. The police, who formed our crew, had been 
busy capturing prisoners wanted for various petty offences 
and obtaining a few witnesses, who accompanied us back to 
Yule Island. Their friends and relatives surrounded us and 
uttered most harrowing lamentations, to which all the children 
and innumerable pariah dogs added their voices. The scene 
would have been piteous had we been a murderous press- 
gang, but the police treated it as an amusing spectacle, seeing 
