been lately accustomed. A little further the road passed to the
other side of the valley by a bridge across the stream at a place
where a great mass of rock in the middle offered an excellent
support for it, and two miles more of most picturesque and
interesting road brought me to the mining establishment.

This is situated in a large open space, at a spot where two
tributaries fall into the main stream. Several forest-paths and
new clearings offered fine collecting grounds, and I captured
some new and interesting insects; but as it was getting late I
had to reserve a more thorough exploration for future occasions.
Coal had been discovered here some years before, and the road was
made in order to bring down a sufficient quantity for a fair
trial on the Dutch steamers. The quality, however, was not
thought sufficiently good, and the mines were abandoned. Quite
recently, works had been commenced in another spot, in Hopes of
finding a better vein. There ware about eighty men employed,
chiefly convicts; but this was far too small a number for mining
operations in such a country, where the mere keeping a few miles
of road in repair requires the constant work of several men. If
coal of sufficiently good quality should be found, a tramroad
would be made, and would be very easily worked, owing to the
regular descent of the valley.

Just as I got home I overtook Ali returning from shooting with
some birch hanging from his belt. He seemed much pleased, and
said, "Look here, sir, what a curious bird," holding out what at
first completely puzzled me. I saw a bird with a mass of splendid
green feathers on its breast, elongated into two glittering
tufts; but, what I could not understand was a pair of long white