THE PARADISE PARROT TRAGEDY 179 



watched they were on the ground. Less than a week 

 later Mr. Jerrard became sure of his birds, having 

 his opinion reinforced by a neighbor who had kept 

 the "Ground Parrots" in captivity many years 

 before. 



Here, at last, was a report that was not only defi- 

 nite, but was made by a man who was competent to 

 follow it up. His attention having been directed to 

 the termites' mounds, Mr. Jerrard soon found holes 

 suggesting the breeding-hollows of the Parrots. In 

 more than one case there were signs that nesting 

 operations had been commenced and then left off. 

 But the year drew to its close without any discovery 

 of an actual nest, and the scant literature on the 

 subject having given September-December as the 

 breeding period, there remained but little hope of a 

 pair of the beautiful birds being studied "at home" 

 for many months. 



Sub-tropical birds, however, swayed by a wilful 

 climate, are not as other birds are in the matter of 

 breeding seasons. So, it was not altogether surpris- 

 ing that the patient watcher was able to report, on 

 January 21st, 1922, that a pair of the Parrots had 

 recommenced work on a hollow that had previously 

 been visited. On that date Mr. Jerrard watched the 

 mound for two hours, but was chary of investigat- 

 ing closely. He saw the male bird pay one visit of 

 inspection, without actually entering the hollow, the 

 female being in the vicinity at the same time. That 

 caution of the observer was wise. Subsequent ob- 

 servations made it clear that eggs were not laid in 

 January, for it was not until March 4th that Mr. 



M 



