HISTORY OF MAURITIUS. 
119- 
followed them on these occasions, I vouch for the truth of this extraordinary 
circumstance, which we observed with equal surprise and satisfaction. 
5* The Gellinottes (gallina rustica) are fat during the whole year, and of a delicate 
taste : they are of a light-gray colour, and there is very little difference in the plumage 
of the two sexes: they take such precaution in secreting their nests, that we could 
never discover any of them ; and consequently did not taste their eggs. They have 
a red border round the eye; and their beak, which is straight and sharp, is also red, 
and about two inches in length. They were seldom able to fly, their fat^renderiog 
them too heavy for such an exertion. If any thing red is presented to them, it irri¬ 
tates them so much that they instantly attack it, and in the heat of their fury they 
are readily taken. The bitterns also which we found in the island were as fat and 
palatable as well fed capons, and more easily caught than, the gelihottes. 
u The pigeons are somewhat smaller than those of Europe : they are of a slate 
colour, and always in a fit state for the table : they perch and build their nests on 
trees. They are so very familiar that, allured by the melon seeds, we seldom sat 
down to dinner without being attended by a considerable number of them. We 
accordingly caught them at our pleasure. They however never build their nests on 
the main island, but on the trees in the small islets near it, in order, as it may be 
supposed, to avoid the rats, which are so abundant in the former, but never pass 
over into the latter. 
“ The Fous, the Frigates , th ePailles en queue , and some other sea birds who live 
solely on fish, make their nests on trees; but the ferrets and some others, lay and 
hatch 'their eggs on the sand in the islets, which are the habitation of the pigeons. 
The flesh of these birds has a rank taste, but their eggs are excellent. Th e fous 
come in the night to repose in the^island; and the frigates, who possess a superior 
power of flight, watch for their arrival on the tops of the trees, when they rise up 
to a great height and pounce upon them like an hawk, but not with a view to kill 
them, but to make them disgorge the contents of their stomacji. The fou , when it 
is struck, seldom fails to cast up the fish it has in its craw, which the frigate catches 
as it falls : there is sometimes a contest between these birds, but the frigate , which 
is more bold, active, and vigorous, seldom fails of obtaining its object. It is of a 
blackish colour, of the size of a duck, with wings of an extraordinary length. It is 
a bird of prey* with characteristic talons, and a beak six inches in length, which is 
crooked at the point. The old males have a piece of red flesh, that resembles zt 
cock’s-comb, under the neck. 
