[18] Forrest’s Voyage to New Guinea, &c., pp. 134-137.
[19] It has been stated, that during flight they cry like starlings.
[20] Pigafetta says, in his relation of Magellan’s voyage round the world, that in the island of Bachian, (one of the Molucca islands,) a species of bird, of exquisite beauty, was found, which the natives called “the bird of God,” saying it came from Paradise.
[21] Kai usually expresses any birds of the gallinaceous tribe.
[22] In the common Canton dialect, Kum signifies gold; but in the Mandarin dialect, Kin is the name for gold; so that this bird is named both Kum, kai, and Kin, kai.
[23] The brilliancy of the Chinese colours for painting, &c. has often been very highly extolled as being superior to the European. What surprise must it create, then, when we are informed that the colours used are of English manufacture, and the Chinese artists are eager for, and anxiously inquire after, them. This reminds me of the gross ignorance frequently displayed by our countrymen in foreign countries,—purchasing English articles abroad at a high price as foreign manufacture, and as unattainable in their native land. It was mentioned as a fact, that a person purchased an elegant London clock in a shop at Canton, at a high price, to take to England as a specimen of China manufacture. Do not we see these follies committed by our countrymen almost every day at Paris?
[24] In Griffiths’ Animal Kingdom, vol. viii. p. 275. Aves, this bird is mentioned as being “distinguished by its brilliant plumage; but it wants the elegant shape which distinguishes the true Columbæ. It remains by preference generally on the ground. It runs with great celerity, and constructs its nest like a partridge. It never perches, except to pass the night. Its cooing is hoarse and dull.”
[25] Sweet potatoes are recommended as a good sea-stock for the purpose of feeding pigeons, birds of paradise, parrots, &c., as a variety of food on board a ship, as those birds often require fruit as a change of diet, which it is found impossible to keep on board during a long voyage; this root, therefore, given to them, either in a raw or boiled state, perfectly serves as a substitute.
[26] Mr. Beale assured me that for four years he has been endeavouring to get specimens of this shrub to England, but as yet without success, they having all perished on the passage.
[27] There were also some splendid large varieties of the Hibiscus rosa chinensis, of different tints; and the beautiful Hibiscus mutabilis changes its blossoms, after their expansion, from a white to a beautiful rose colour. The celebrated Mou-tan, or Peony, of China, I was told was merely a very large and splendid variety of the Hibiscus rosa chinensis.