4 AMERIGAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



the smaller hawks and again being undulatory like that of the woodpeckers. 

 They sometimes feed upon the ground, but they are very awkward walkers. 

 When feeding upon buds or seeds at the ends of the slenderest twigs, they 

 are the embodiment of grace, and are as likely to be seen hanging upside 

 down as in the regulation manner. Like all parrots they make free use of 

 their bill to aid them in clambering from one position to another. 



Their manner of nidification is still a matter of doubt and it is very possi- 

 ble that they may go out of existence without anyone obtaining an authentic 

 set of their eggs. It is generally believed that they nest in cavities of trees 

 and that they lay two or three eggs. It has been claimed that they nest in 

 colonies and make shabby structures on horizontal branches, but this belief 

 lacks absolute confirmation, although it might be true if there were a scarcity 

 of hollow limbs for them to occupy. The National Museum has sets of 

 eggs purporting to be those of this bird, but the datas are not sufficiently ac- 

 curate to prove their genuineness. Mr. Robert Ridgeway has obtained eggs 

 from birds in captivity, so that it is known that the eggs are white in color 

 like those of other parrots ; the surface of the shells is pitted somewhat, like 

 that of the shell of an ostrich egg, but much less noticeable. 



As night approaches all the birds in the neighborhood retire to the com- 

 mon roosting place; this is usually in the heart of some large decaying tree 

 in the depths of a swamp. They are said to sleep partially suspended by 

 their strong hooked bills, from the inner walls of the cavity. As they al- 

 ways returned to the same tree every night, this habit was taken advantage 

 of in catching them alive, a man going to the place before dark, and after 

 the birds had all entered the tree, placing a bag over the opening, thus tak- 

 ing the whole colony. 



It is very doubtful if any means of protection can be devised to preserve 

 this interesting species. They are too far gone, and we must sit idly by and 

 watch these birds that once were common as far north as Virginia and Mis- 

 souri, pass out of existence. 



A TRUE STORY. 



Concerning Some Foreigners. 



By C. Edwin Hopkins. 



A number of foreigners had taken ajjartments upon the eaves and 



cornices surrounding a beautiful lawn which, by the way, was a very good 



feeding ground. Now, these foreigners had used these feeding grounds for 



many years, during rain and sunshine, winter and summer. 



One fine morning early in the month of March, a gentleman, Mr. Robin, 

 by name, who had been spending the winter in the southern states, arrived 

 in the neighborhood, and being impressed by the beauty of the place, decided 



