Sir Arthur has now acquired all manner of parrots—green and yellow, scarlet and black and purple—which wander all over the place. The most exquisite of all are the Kulas, tiny miniature parrots, combining green, scarlet, and purple in their gem-like plumage, and capable of being so thoroughly tamed that we have had them walking about the table at breakfast, climbing over the flowers, or sitting on our fingers, caressing us with their little rough tongues, and eating brown sugar and water, which, I believe, is the only safe food to give them. They are plucky little birds, and walk about the verandah on guard, and drive away the great big ducks, who stand in much awe of them. They also fight with the beautiful wee kingfisher. The latter is useful in the way of killing cockroaches. The other day Abbey observed one of the laughing-jackasses half choking with the effort to swallow something, and going to the rescue found the dear little kingfisher half-way down its throat; neither seemed any the worse, however. A few days afterwards he again heard a scuffle, and found both the jackasses trying to swallow the same rat; as neither would yield its prize, he carried out Solomon’s judgment with good effect, and both were satisfied! I have been very busy for some time in painting careful studies of all the best objects of native art which come to any of us in our several collections. All the different patterns of carved bowls, with or without curiously shaped legs—some for oil, some for drink; all the multiform clubs and spears; all curious necklaces and ornaments; and a wonderful variety of wooden pillows. It is really a very interesting occupation, and now I am beginning to make drawings of every piece of pottery that any one of us acquires. I determined to do this, both because the pieces are so brittle that comparatively few will reach England in safety even with most careful packing, and also because, as each old woman works just according to her own fancy, the best pieces, many of which are really most artistic, are never made in duplicate—at all events it is rarely possible to obtain a second, and things made to order are utter failures.