On our way we could not help admiring the birds which flew and chirped around us.

Among them we observed a pretty kind of paroquet, with a green body, a blue head, and a red breast; also a few beautiful turtledoves, and several flocks of wood-pigeons.

The hues of many of these birds were extremely vivid,--bright green, blue, and scarlet, being the prevailing tints.

We made several attempts throughout the day to bring down one of these, both with the bow and the sling,--not for mere sport, but to ascertain whether they were good for food.

But we invariably missed, although once or twice we were very near hitting.