CONURUS CAROLINENSIS, CAROLINA PARROQUET 297 



the remark, on a subsequent page, that it is not probable they extend their migrations 

 into the State at the present time. Althongh not given in Allen's Illinois list, they 

 still exist in the southern part of that State, or did within ten or tiiteen years. For 

 their occurrence in Indiana he quotes the authority of Dr. Raymond, who stat-s, in 

 1856, that they were formerly very numerous along White Water River, but had not 

 been seen for several years. 



Among the causes of this retrocession — perhaps the principal cause — is their perse- 

 cution and destruction, jiartly for the damage they do in grain-fields, partly in pure 

 wantonness. They may be readily killed by any pot hunter or idler, merciless ad- 

 vantage being taken, to slaughter them by scores, of the heedless distraction and con- 

 cern they show when any of their number are brought down. Mr. Alleu's paragraph 

 may well be here reproduced. In speaking of their abundance iu Florida, he says: 

 '' Hundreds are captured every winter on the Lower St. Johns, by professional bird- 

 catchers, and sent to northern cities. Thousands of others are destroyed wantonly by 

 sportsmen. Concerning this needless slaughter, Mr. Boardman thus writes : ' The little 

 Parrakeet nmst soon be exterminated. Some of our Enterprise party would sometimes 

 shoot forty or fifty at a few discharges, for sport, as they hover about when any are 

 shot until the whole flock is destroyed.' From its habit of feeding upon the tender 

 maize in autumn, it is somewhat injurious to the farmer, and for this cause, also, many 

 are killed. It is also more or less hunted as a game-bird. It is well known that the 

 Parrokeet formerly inhabited large portions of the United States where it is now never 

 seen, and the cause of its disappearance has been deemed a mystery. Such facts as 

 these, however, seem to render clear what its ultimate fate must be in the United 

 States — extermination." 



The egg of the Parroquet is nearly equal at both ends, of rather rough texture, and 

 measures about 1.40 by 1.05. The color is white; but the only specimen before me 

 shows much yellowish discoloration, like that on the eggs of many geese and ducks. 



