Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/69

] wood of the eucalyptus globulus, induced our carpenters to employ it in preference to the other species of the same genus.

For my part I entered into the thick woods to the north-west of us. Several species of shrubs, of the pistacia family, grow under the shade of the large trees; and the fagara evodia distinguished itself by its beautiful foliage. In these gloomy places the eye rested with pleasure on the carpodontos lucida, the branches of which were quite covered with fine white flowers.

As I advanced toward the south-west, I crossed some open spots, where I killed a beautiful species of paroquet, which I distinguish by the name of the black-spotted paroquet of Diemen's Cape (See Plate X.). I had already met with it in several other places, but always such as were low, and destitute of covert. Very different from the known species of the same genus, it does not perch, for I uniformly observed it rise from among the grass, on which it almost immediately settled again. The shape of the feet, which are furnished with very long claws but little curved, sufficiently indicate the manners of the bird. Its plumage is green, spotted with black; some of the spots being surrounded with little yellowish bands. The under part of the wings is ashen-grey, with a broad band of pale yellow. Under the belly the black