ht of birds, their snowy plumage tinged with pink shining in
the rays of the setting sun. Before long they pitched in a group of
trees on the borders of the river, where they commenced an earnest
conversation rather than a concert, all having apparently some
interesting matter to communicate to one another. They were crested or
pink cockatoos, the most beautiful birds we had yet seen. They did not
appear to be at all alarmed at our presence, but remained on the boughs
where they had settled, apparently intending to make these their
resting-places for the night. We were thus able to examine them without
difficulty.

The general colour of the bird was white, with a slight pinkish flush;
but the neck, breast, and hind part of the tail were deeply stained with
crimson. Its most remarkable feature, however, was its beautiful crest,
which it raised like a fan over its head, or depressed at the back of
its neck. The feathers of the crest were long, and barred with crimson,
gold, yellow, and white, which added greatly to its beauty. The bird
was between thirteen and sixteen inches in length. We might have shot
any number we liked, but having already a supply of food, we did not
like to do so. I wished very much, however, to catch one alive, to
carry to Edith; and Harry said he thought he could manage to trap one,
though, unless we could get a young bird, it would be difficult to tame.

"You are magnificent fellows," observed Mudge; "but notwithstanding
that, we shall be under the necessity of plucking off your fine feathers
and cooking you some day, if we are in want of game."

As the evening was drawing on, we did not remain longer to admire the
birds, but pushing off with our store of provisions, crossed the river.

"You have indeed brought us a seasonable supply of green food," said my
father when we landed. "While nature affords us such wholesome
vegetables as those you have found, and while our powder lasts, we need
have no fear of starving; and if such can be obtained all the way to the
southward, we may set forth on our journey with the hope of being able
to find ample food, on the way, to supply our wants."

We had been constantly expecting another visit from our native
acquaintance Pullingo; but as he did not make his appearance, we began
to fancy that he had been merely travelling from one part of the country
to another, and discovering us on his way, had been tempted by curiosity
to approach our camp.