:::::::.:C NEAR THE TWIN \ OLCANOS m::::::::: 



fellows have an individuality which is irresistible. 

 They are the most sociable little creatures, calling 

 loudly to each other when on the wing-, and keeping 

 up a continuous low chuckling and chattering when 

 perched. One would climb, foot over foot, to a large 

 fruit, take several bites and return to his mate, close 

 to whom he would snaggle and offer his head for an 

 affectionate nibble. The favourite fruit of these birds 

 was very sticky and juicy, and the little creatures were 

 almost always in a disgracefully soiled, condition, — 

 their bills and heads encrusted with the gummy liquid. 

 These little parrakeets were not shy, but very watch- 

 ful, and, when frightened, they always flew to a curious 

 tree which, though bare of leaves, was sparsely covered 

 with an odd-looking, long and four-sided fruit of a 

 green colour. Under such circumstances they alighted 

 all together, and, unlike their usual custom of perching 

 in pairs, they scattered all over the tree, stood very 

 upright, and remained motionless. From a distance of 

 fifty feet it was impossible to distinguish parrakeet from 

 fruit, so close was the resemblance. A hawk dashed 

 down once and carried away a bird, but the others 

 remained us still as if they were inanimate fruit. This 

 silent trust in the protective resemblance of the green 

 fruit was most remarkable, when we remembered the 

 frantic shrieks which these birds always set up at the 

 approach of danger, when they happened to be caught 

 away from one of these Parrot-fruit trees. These latter 



^- 181 #» 



