PARROTS. 



247 



and remain so quiet that their presence is not discoverable. At any 

 alarm, however, the whole flock flies off" hastily to another retreat, 

 uttering loud discordant screams. Towards evening they leave 

 the trees for the purpose of obtaining their second daily supply 

 of food, after which all the flocks reassemble with much noise, 

 again visit the river to perform their second ablutions ; and before 



Fig. 12S.— The August Parrot {Fsiiiacus aui^icstiu). 



going to rest, revisit the trees, to preen and dry their plumage by 

 the last rays of the sun. This completed, they separate and re- 

 tire each to its own peculiar roosting-place, until the dawn of day 

 again awakens them into active life. On the approach of the 

 rainy season these birds migrate to the warmer districts, and, 

 during their migration, rise to so great an elevation in the air, 

 that they are not visible to the naked eye, though their discordant 

 notes are distinctly heard. They seek the quiet solitudes of the 

 forests for rearing their young, and feed their nestlings by dis- 

 gorging into their mouths half-masticated fruit, after the manner 



