Passing through the wood of evergreen oaks, we observed our sow
feasting on the acorns, evidently not a whit the worse for the fright
we had given her the previous day--in fact, she appeared more friendly
disposed towards us than usual, possibly considering us as her
deliverers from the jaws of the savage dogs.
Many birds tenanted this grove, and were undisturbed by our movements,
until Fritz fired and shot a beautiful blue jay, and a couple of
parakeets, one a brilliant scarlet, the other green and gold. Fritz was
in the act of reloading his gun, when an unaccountable noise struck our
ears, and put us instantly on the alert, because it appeared like the
dull thumping sound of a muffled drum, and reminded us of the possible
presence of savages.
With the greatest caution we drew nearer the sound, concealing
ourselves among the low bushes and thick grass and creepers, until we
reached an open glade; where, standing on an old prostrate log, was a
beautiful bird, about the size of a cock, of a rich chestnut brown
colour, finely mottled with dark brown and grey. On the shoulders were
curious tufts of velvety black feathers, glossed with green. He was
ruffling his wings, erecting his tail and neck feathers, strutting and
wheeling about in a most strange and stately fashion.
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