PARROTS 109 



and in old skins, but we have never seen it wash out in 

 nature, and have tried to do so artificially with soap and 

 water, but without result. 



This species ranges from George in the Cape Colony 

 to Lydenburg in the Transvaal. 



The Purple-crested Lourie (Gallirex porphyreolophus) 

 is the commoner species in the Northern Transvaal, 

 ranging from Natal to the Zambesi along the Eastern 

 line. It has the top of the head and crest glossy purple, 

 lower back wings and tail lilac-blue. It is not uncommon 

 in the Woodbush on the Great Letaba River in the 

 Zoutpansberg District, and has been procured at Nels- 

 pruit by Mr. A. Duncan of Johannesburg. 



The last representative of the family is a plain 

 ashy-grey bird (Schizorhis concolor), the " Go-away " bird 

 of English Colonists, and " Groote Muisvogel " (Big 

 Mouse-bird) of the Boers, which latter name is very 

 appropriate, as it is very much like an over-grown mouse- 

 bird. 



It inhabits Central and Northern South Africa south- 

 wards to Zululand, but is not found in Natal, the Cape 

 Colony or Orange River Colony. In the Pretoria District 

 along the Crocodile River, north of Hartebeest Poort, 

 they are fairly common, uttering their harsh cry of 

 "guay, guay ! " in the evening. They are rather wild 

 in that region, consequently not easily shot. 



PARROTS. 



The Parrot Tribe (Psittaci) is very poorly represented 

 in South Africa. 



The best known species is probably the Red-shouldered 

 Parrot (Poeocephalus robustus), which is fairly dull 



