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nearly related to the Conures, and are confined to Central 

 and South America. The only species which is common 

 as a cage bird is the Quaker Parrakeet {B. fnonachus), an 

 exceedingly pretty bird of a grass green colour, with 

 head and breast of delicate grev : this species learns to 

 talk well, but every specimen I have ever known has 

 been an incessant and excruciating screamer. The chief 

 interest of this Parrakeet lies in the fact that it is the 

 only Parrot which is known to construct a nest. The 

 general custom of the Parrot family is to breed in hollow 

 trees, laying the eggs on bare wood. We have seen, 

 however, that the I.ovebirds line the hollow, and that 

 other species breed in burrows, but the Quaker is the 

 only species which builds a true nest. With regard to 

 this remarkable fact Dr. Puss says : "The forests contain 

 thousands of the nests of these Parrakeets, which 

 usually hang from the ends of the branches into which 

 they are woven. Each nest consists of an ante-chamber, 

 and behind this the true nest, which is always occupied 

 by one couple; the entrance is usually effected from 

 below, but if it should be at the side it is protected by a 

 projecting roof In this manner about a dozen pairs 

 build their nests close together. Every spring the 

 couples build new nests upon the old ones, and thus 

 there arises in time an enormous pile of these structures 

 in one mass, which may ofteti weigh several hundred- 

 weights, and on many a sturdy forest tree one may see 

 seven or eight such settlements in which the birds are 

 constantly at work mending the nests ; and new ones 

 are always added in the spring for the fresh breeding 

 season. The nests are occupied by the birds, even after 

 the breeding season, all through the year. Thorny twigs 

 are used exclusively for building purposes, and the part 

 of the nest used for hatching is lined with grasses." A 

 pair of Quaker Parrakeets, in the possession of INIr. 

 vSydney Buxton, built an enormous nest, five feet high 

 and six feet in circumference, and other pairs have built 

 nests in captivity. Another species of Bolborhynchus 

 \B. lineohitus) is sometimes imported. It is a smaller bird. 



