120 Mr. G. C. Taylor on Birds collected 



quenting at night, having assembled for that purpose. They 

 are in the habit of feeding in the maize fields, morning and 

 evening, and are not difficult of approach. If one is wounded, 

 its shrill screams attract others, and they wheel overhead, 

 giving opportunities for fresh shots. In this way I shot three 

 within five minutes, from the back of my mule, and without 

 moving from one spot. This was near Comayagua. They are 

 strong on the wmg and high- flyers. Their brilhant plumage 

 and long tails have a splendid effect in tropical forest scenery, 

 forming a strong contrast to the deep green of the foliage, 

 and a brilliant addition to the landscape. I have seen them 

 up in the pine-ridges, and recollect riding beneath a pair sitting 

 so close together on the branch of a pine tree overhanging 

 the road, that I could have killed both at one shot. They were 

 abundant in Tigre Island. I there shot one out of a flock of 

 seven flying over my head. He was only winged ; and I did not 

 know how to handle him so as to save my fingers. I did not 

 like to rap him on the head, lest I should spoil his plumage ; so 

 I got his head into a noose of my pocket-handkerchief, and 

 brought him into the house — not in silence, for he screamed 

 most vociferously. When there, the difficulty was to kill him. 

 Some long pins were thrust into his head, but the only effect 

 was to make him more lively and to squall the louder. At last 

 I dipped a feather in nitric acid ; and while he was in the act of 

 climbing up a bedstead, and screaming with beak wide open, 

 I popped it down his throat. He released his hold of the bed- 

 stead, gave a few kicks and struggles, turned on his back, and 

 died. 



49. Bkown-breasted Green Parrakeet. [Conurus astec.) 

 Shot near Comayagua, and not uncommon. 



50. Green Parrakeet. {Conurus petzit) 



Common. Obtained on the Pacific Slope. Parrakeets are very 

 numerous in Honduras, but they appeared to resort more to the 

 recesses of the forest than to the vicinity of habitations. They fly 

 high, and very fast, with a quick motion of the wings, screaming 

 all the time, often wheeling in the air like flocks of Sandlarks. 

 Parrots have a much slower flight, and slower flapping of the 



