Таємничий острів

           Atthistimeoftheyear,thecommencementofthemonthofApril,whichrepresentsthemonthofOctober,inthishemisphere,thatis,thebeginningofautumn,theywerestillinfullleaf.Theyconsistedprincipallyofcasuarinasandeucalypti,someofwhichnextyearwouldyieldasweetmanna,similartothemannaoftheEast.ClumpsofAustraliancedarsroseontheslopingbanks,whichwerealsocoveredwiththehighgrasscalled"tussac"inNewHolland;butthecocoanut,soabundantinthearchipelagoesofthePacific,seemedtobewantingintheisland,thelatitude,doubtless,beingtoolow.

           "Whatapity!"saidHerbert,"suchausefultree,andwhichhassuchbeautifulnuts!"

           Astothebirds,theyswarmedamongthescantybranchesoftheeucalyptiandcasuarinas,whichdidnothinderthedisplayoftheirwings.Black,white,orgraycockatoos,paroquets,withplumageofallcolors,kingfishersofasparklinggreenandcrownedwithred,bluelories,andvariousotherbirdsappearedonallsides,asthroughaprism,flutteringaboutandproducingadeafeningclamor.Suddenly,astrangeconcertofdiscordantvoicesresoundedinthemidstofathicket.Thesettlersheardsuccessivelythesongofbirds,thecryofquadrupeds,andasortofclackingwhichtheymighthavebelievedtohaveescapedfromthelipsofanative.NebandHerbertrushedtowardsthebush,forgettingeventhemostelementaryprinciplesofprudence.