On the Racket-Tailed Parrot.



346



growth of these characteristic adornments had the bird lived to

complete a natural moult; but unfortunately it very soon

sickened and died, probably from a want of knowledge on the

part of those in charge of it, of its proper treatment. It is

greatly to be hoped that others may be brought to this country,

and possibly, when better understood, they may prove to be

less delicate than they appear at present to be.


Although the specimen above referred to was, in all pro¬

bability, the first living example ever seen in the British Islands,

it was not, as at first supposed, the first of its kind to arrive in

Europe, for Herr Blaauw kept one as long ago as 188S in

Holland, a short account of which he published in our Magazine

last year (p. 277). It was an adult, with the spatulated feathers,

perfectly developed, but it was not in robust health, and lived

but a short time. “ This Parrot,” writes Herr Blaauw, “fed on

seeds, with the addition of stale bread soaked in milk, with

some sugar over it ; a food which I have often found very

beneficial to Parrots when in rather a poor condition.”


Dr. A. B. Meyer gives the following interesting account of

this Parrot in its native island—Celebes :


“ This bird flies much during the night, and can often be

heard crying 011 the wing over one’s head. It feeds in the night

on the fruits of gardens and fields, and is fond of Indian corn,

rice, and fruits, like lansa, pakowa, etc. During the day-time it

is seldom to be met in the plantations, but is to be seen flying

very high and crying loud, seldom alone. It makes its nest in

hollow trees. On trees it does not move much, but sits quietly.

If one is shot down from a group, the others do not stir, but lie,

concealed by their green plumage, between the leaves, just as I

have noticed in the case of other Parrots.


“The natives of the Minahassa assert that if the ‘ kulli-

kulli ’ is taken by surprise in the rice-fields, it becomes confused

or terrified, falls down, and then can easily be caught. This

does not appear very credible ; nevertheless it agrees with the

observation that one can be brought down by a shot out of a

group without the others moving ; perhaps these are struck by

terror, and do not know what to do. This fact has given rise to



