The most anomalous fact on
this subject which I have met with is the wildness of the small
birds in the Arctic parts of North America (as described by
Richardson, Fauna Bor., vol.
Ii. p. 332), where they are said
never to be persecuted. This case is the more strange, because
it is asserted that some of the same species in their winter-
quarters in the United States are tame. There is much, as Dr.
Richardson well remarks, utterly inexplicable connected with the
different degrees of shyness and care with which birds conceal
their nests. How strange it is that the English wood-pigeon,
generally so wild a bird, should very frequently rear its young
in shrubberies close to houses!
CHAPTER XVIII
TAHITI AND NEW ZEALAND
Pass through the Low Archipelago - Tahiti - Aspect -
Vegetation on the Mountains - View of Eimeo - Excursion into
the Interior - Profound Ravines - Succession of Waterfalls -
Number of wild useful Plants - Temperance of the Inhabitants -
Their moral state - Parliament convened - New Zealand - Bay
of Islands - Hippahs - Excursion to Waimate - Missionary
Establishment - English Weeds now run wild - Waiomio -
Funeral of a New Zealand Woman - Sail for Australia.
OCTOBER 20th. - The survey of the Galapagos Archipelago
being concluded, we steered towards Tahiti
and commenced our long passage of 3200 miles. In
the course of a few days we sailed out of the gloomy and
clouded ocean-district which extends during the winter far
from the coast of South America. We then enjoyed bright
and clear weather, while running pleasantly along at the
rate of 150 or 160 miles a day before the steady trade-wind.
The temperature in this more central part of the Pacific is
higher than near the American shore.
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