134 LE VAILLANT'S PJONUS. 



as latitude 32 It was first discovered and figured 

 by Le Vaillant, who informs us, that it only resides 

 in the woods, in the latitude above mentioned, du- 

 ring the season of reproduction, quitting them for 

 warmer districts on the approach of the rainy season, 

 after it has reared its young ; and that, during these 

 migratory movements, the flocks fly so high as to be 

 beyond the reach of sight, though their screams or 

 call-notes can still be heard. As usual in this family, 

 the hollow of a tree is the receptacle for the eggs, 

 which are four in number, in size equal to those of 

 a pigeon, and which are incubated alternately by 

 both sexes. The young, when first hatched, are 

 naked, but soon become covered with greyish down. 

 Their plumage is not perfected till after an interval 

 of six weeks, and they remain a considerable time 

 longer in the nest, during which they are fed by the 

 parents, who disgorge in the manner of pigeons. In 

 an interesting detail of their habits, he observes that 

 they are remarkably fond of bathing, and are ob- 

 served to fly every day, and at the same hour, to the 

 water for this purpose. The hours of feeding are 

 also very regular, and the whole day is distributed 

 by rule a fact we have observed to prevail among 

 other birds. At dawn of day, the whole flight of 

 each district assembles, and alights with much noise 

 on one or more dead trees, according to the size of 

 the flock, and there, displaying their wings to the 

 first rays of the sun, recal to mind the idea of some 

 ancient race, of simple manners, assembled on some 



