Identifier: threevoyagesofna00nico (find matches)
Title: Three voyages of a naturalist : being an account of many little-known islands in three oceans visited by the "Valhalla" R.Y.S.
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Nicoll, M. J. (Michael John), 1880-1925 Crawford, James Ludovic Lindsay, Earl of, 1847-1913
Subjects: Valhalla (Yacht) Scientific expeditions Voyages and travels Voyages around the world Birds West Indies -- Discovery and exploration
Publisher: London : Witherby & Co.
Contributing Library: The LuEsther T Mertz Library, the New York Botanical Garden
Digitizing Sponsor: The LuEsther T Mertz Library, the New York Botanical Garden

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forth. In the latter place we rode upon thelargest tortoise. This creature was of a fiercedisposition, for with outstretched neck and everyappearance of anger he attacked all who venturednear him, and we were told that he would bite ifallowed the opportunity. All these tortoises havebeen imported from Aldabra, and there are nowprobably considerably more individuals on theSeychelles than on the former island. After we had spent about a week on Mahethe ship steamed across to Praslin, about twentymiles distant. We anchored in Curieuse Bay,an inlet of Praslin, and sheltered by the islandof Curieuse, which lies close on the other side ofa narrow channel. A short walk on shore during our first afternoonwas not productive. There were fewer birdsthan on Mahe. A paradise flycatcher* of thesize of a sparrow, but jet black, with thecentral tail-feathers prolonged to a great length,was the most interesting bird seen. It is knownlocally as the veuve, or widow, but apparently * Terpsiphone corvina.
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© 00 -- - mQ CO £ w o o o o » J ■* ## H — h *• »—* Eh A HARE PARROT 131 it is not common, as during our stay only two weremet with. A thrush, or bulbul * is by far themost abundant land-bird on Praslin, as it is also onmost of the other islands of the group. Its notesare among the most unmelodious sounds I haveever heard. All day long it pours forth harshshrieks. Several of them were brought home alive,and regularly every morning at daybreak theywould begin to scream, rarely ceasing before sunset.In captivity they are of a most quarrelsomedisposition, though in a wild state they are usuallyseen together in parties of from two to twentyindividuals. One of our chief objects in visiting Praslin wasto get a specimen of the black parrot, f Thesebirds are strictly protected by Mons. E. Boulle,the owner of a greater part of the island, andthrough his kindness we were able to see this rarebird in a wild state. It is now only to be found inone locality, where, close to Mons. Boulle

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