110 DENIZENS OF THE FOREST 



coloured and about the size of the ordinary Grey Parrot 

 of talking fame. The rump, upper tail coverts, lower 

 breast and belly are grass-green, and there is a vermilion 

 band round the edge of the wing. 



It is found from Zuurberg in Cape Colony to 

 Mashonaland. In Eastern Cape Colony it is probably 

 commonest in the Pirie Forest, near Kingwilliamstown. 



These birds are gregarious in habits and denizens of 

 the thick bush and forest tracts. 



The little Meyer's Parrot (P. meyeri) in its brown 

 and blue plumage, with a yellow band on the head and 

 a yellow edge to the wing, is a fairly common bird in 

 the Western Transvaal, extending into Bechuanaland 

 and Khodesia. 



The little Eosy-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis] 

 is grass-green, with the forehead, side of face and throat 

 rose-red, rump regions cobalt-blue. It extends from 

 North-Western Cape Colony to the Transvaal and 

 Damaraland. 



All parrots are frugivorous birds. 



DOYES. 



The Doves (Order Columbce) are fairly numerous in 

 South Africa, being represented by two families contain- 

 ing fourteen species in eight genera. 



Doves are characterised by their short legs and peculiar 

 beaks, the basal portion of which is soft and pad-like, 

 forming what is called the " cere," the rest of the beak 

 being hard and somewhat swollen towards the tip. 



The young are devoid of feathers and very weak and 

 helpless when hatched. 



