3(J4 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIHUS. 



Psittacus, r. erithacKs, tlio jriko of west and ccntrnl Africa is best known, but though 

 this species has been cornnKni in Europe for three hundred years, almost notliing is 

 known of its habits in its native country. One curious fact deserves mention. In 

 the Gulf of Guinea are two islands, St. Thomas anil Prince's, separated by a distance of 

 less than a hundred miles. On the latter the gray jiarrots are extremely common, 

 " but not a single kite is met with on the island. On the neighboring island of St. 



Fio. 169. — Sittace hyaeinihina, hyacinth macaw. 



Tliomas there is an abund.inoo of bl.ick kites, but not a single parrot, lietween whom 

 and the kites a constant warfare is waged, .so that, sliould one of the latter get driven 

 over to Prince's Island he is almost immediately set upon by the parrots and slaugh- 

 tered ; and the <'()m|)linient is returned if a i)arrot is so unfortunate as to land 

 uniin ited on St. Thoirias's." 



With the largest family of parrots, the Co.vuniDyE, we turn our steps to the New 

 World, to wliifh all of the ninety-three known species belong. Tlu y have strong bills, 



