192 Mr. O. V. Aplin on the 



Negro^ wliere^ without being scarce^ it is not abundant. It is 

 known there as the " Loro/' or the " Barranquero/^ the 

 latter name properly belonging to C. pataf/onus, which is 

 unknown there. The " Barranquero ^^ (to retain the most 

 usual local name) to a great extent keeps to particular spots 

 in the monte — although it visits the chacras when the 

 maize is ripe. They are rather shy and not very easy to 

 procure, as when sitting on the trees their green colour 

 renders them inconspicuous^ and they easily take alarm and 

 fly off to a distance. They are usually seen in pairs, or in 

 parties of four or five, flying over the trees or the river at a 

 great pace, uttering rather deep-toned harsh screams. The 

 two specimens I procured had been feeding on some unripe 

 flat-shaped seeds. They were in worn plumage (December). 

 The charcoal-burners there say the '' Lores '' breed in holes in 

 trees, and as they occasionally procure young birds for 

 English and other residents they are doubtless correct. 

 At the end of March I saw two young ones which had been 

 brought from that locality, and, from what I could learn, 

 were taken about the end of February. They must grow 

 their feathers very slowly, as one was not nearly covered at 

 the time I saw them. The talking-powers of this bird are 

 very considerable, and it is highly prized in captivity on this 

 account. They become wonderfully tame. 



79. BoLBORHYNCHus MONACHUs, Grccu Parrakect. 



The " Cotorrita " inhabits parts of the monte of the Arroyo 

 Grande and Monzon, living in small colonies. There were 

 two nests in tall poplars close to Sta. Adelaida, on the 

 former river, with Ave or six pairs in each nest. They 

 were large masses of sticks, about a yard and a half in 

 diameter and a yard in depth ; round the lower edge were 

 some perched holes, each occupied by a pair of birds. On 

 3rd December I found many broken egg-shells under the 

 nests, so that the young were probably hatched. In the valley 

 of the Rio Negro the " Cotorrita " was more abundant, and 

 I saw several large nests, always in the taller trees. These 

 birds visit the gardens and maize chacras which happen to 



