Concerning the birds of the country.

THERE are many strange birds in this country, particularly a kind called Uwara Pirange,96 which seeks its food by the sea and nests in the rocks close to the shore. This bird is about the size of a hen, with a long beak and legs like a heron, but not so long. The feathers on the young birds are light grey. Later, when they are fledged, the feathers become dark grey. They fly about thus for a year, after which the plumage changes again and the whole bird becomes red, as red as paint, and so it remains. The savages set great store by these feathers.