1888 



THE PARROT TRIBE 



Gray Parrot 



to all. It may be mentioned, however, that it is characterized by the 

 squared tail being less than half the length of the wing, by the rather 

 compressed and lengthened bill, and by the papillae covering the naked portions of 

 the face. The general color of the plumage is ashy, with a bright red tail. The 

 range of this species extends from the Congo and Guinea coast across Equatorial 

 Africa to the east of Lake Nyassa. In Liberia and lower Sierra Leone it is replaced 

 by P. timneh, distinguished by its dark gray plumage, and the dark red of the tail. 

 The best account extant of the habits of the gray parrot in its wild state is one by 

 Mr. J. G. Keulemans, who had an opportunity of studying these birds during a long 



THE GRAY PARROT. 



(Two-fifths natural size.) 







residence on Prince's island, where they especially frequent a hill, known as the 

 Pico do Papagaio. Mr. Keulemans writes that ' ' these parrots are always found in 

 flocks which go about the island during the day, returning to their own appointed 

 place on the mountain in the evening to roost. Their food consists of fruits, such 

 as the palm nut, the avocat, the banana, goyave, mango, and many other fruits of 

 a smaller kind, but they always give the preference to the palm nuts. They drink 

 but little, and as no water is found on the Pico, they must obtain what they require 

 during the day on the lowland. They make no nest, but deposit their eggs (which 

 are from two to four in number) on the bottom of the hole. The eggs are in size, 



