8 BULLETIN 17 6, UNITED STATES NATIONAL, MUSEUM 



and progressive changes toward maturity continue all through the 

 spring months until, by summer, the yellow head is fully acquired. 

 Audubon (1840) says that the young bird requires two years to at- 

 tain its full plumage, and Maynard (1896) says that it is acquired 

 during the third year, but the material examined does not indicate 

 this. 



Adults have a complete molt in fall, from September to November. 

 Dr. Frank M. Chapman's (1890) captive bird began to molt in Sep- 

 tember, "and by November had acquired an entirely new plumage." 

 Arthur T. Wayne (1910) says that they "commence to molt about 

 October 5, and require at least six weeks to acquire their perfect 

 plumage." 



Food. — Much has been said about the food of the Carolina parakeet 

 in the earlier part of this account, as its feeding habits were so 

 destructive in fruit orchards and grain fields that the birds were 

 unmercifully slaughtered by the planters, thus hastening the ex- 

 termination of the species. But before the lands were so extensively 

 cultivated, the parakeets lived on their natural, wild food. C. J. 

 Maynard (1896) writes: 



I observed a large flock of Parokeets moving along the ground. * * * At 

 first, I could not make out what they were doing but soon found that they 

 were busily engaged in eating cockspurs, the seeds of a species of grass vrhich 

 grows very abundantly in old fields. They walked quite well for birds having 

 such short legs and, in pressing forward, moved side by side in a long rank, 

 looking exactly like miniature soldiers. After a few moments, something 

 startled them and they arose, wheeled about, darting rapidly up and down, 

 precisely like pigeons, at the same time, uttering loud cries ; then settled quietly 

 down again and resumed their meal, as composedly as if nothing had occurred 

 to interrupt. 



This is the only time that I ever chanced to see the Parokeets feed on the 

 ground but I have been informed by the inhabitants of Florida, that they are 

 very fond of cockspurs and will frequently alight in the fields in order to eat 

 them. Early in winter, they visit the swamps, where they feed upon the 

 cypress balls. Then it is very difficult to find them as they often remain for 

 weeks in the impenetrable fastnesses of the vast wooded tracts which, at this 

 season, are submerged in water. Later, about the first of Februai-y, the Paro- 

 keets emerge from the swamps in small flocks and enter the open woods to 

 search for the seeds of the pine cones which are then ripe. At this time, they 

 may be met with quite frequently but the best opportunity to procure speci- 

 mens occurs about the middle of February, when they may be found in large 

 companies, feeding upon the green seeds of the maples and elms which grow 

 along the rivers. 



Dr. Chapman (1890) found these parakeets feeding on the prairies 

 near the Sebastian River in Florida, of which he says: 



About these "prairies" and at the borders of small streams or low ground 

 grew in abundance a species of thistle (Cirsnim Lecontei, T. & G.) the seeds 

 of which, so far as I could learn, constituted at this season [February] the 

 entire food of Comtrus. Not a patch of thistles did we find which had not 

 been visited by them, the headless stalks showing clearly where the thistles 



