290 PYGMIES AND PAPUANS 



Mr. Goodfellow tells us was every night the roosting- 

 place of thousands of Lories, chiefly Eos fuscatus, and 

 there were also smaller flocks of Trichoglossus cyano- 

 gramnius. Long before sunset and until it was quite 

 dusk flocks of many hundred birds coming from all 

 directions flew over with a deafening noise. Often some 

 weak branch would give way under their weight, causing 

 a panic just as the noise was beginning to subside, and 

 clouds of these birds would again circle around, seeking 

 a fresh roosting place and keeping up a continual din. 



One of the most peculiar Parrots, and bearing a 

 marked external resemblance to the Kea of New Zealand, 

 is the Vulturine Parrot (Dasyptilus pesqueti) which has 

 the black skin of the face almost entirely bare, the 

 plumage black and scarlet on the wings, rump and belly, 

 the breast feathers having pale sandy margins. Its 

 hoarse, grating call, quite unlike that of any other 

 species, could be heard a long way off, and was con- 

 tinually uttered when on the wing. Mr. Goodfellow 

 says it usually moves about in parties of four or five 

 individuals, and that occasionally as many as seven may 

 be seen together. When not feeding they always select 

 the tallest trees to rest in, preferring dead ones which 

 tower about the general level of the jungle, and in 

 which they remain for hours at a time in rain or sun- 

 shine. They do not climb after the usual manner of 

 Parrots, but jump from branch to branch with a jerky 

 movement, like the Lories, and with a rapid flicking 

 movement of the wings. They feed entirely on soft 

 fruits, chiefly wild figs. Apparently the species feeds on 

 the plains and retires to the mountains to roost, for 

 every evening flocks or pairs were observed passing high 

 over the camp at Parimau, and making their way 

 towards the Saddle-peak range. 



A handsome new Parroquet of the genus ApyosmicUis 

 was discovered, and has been named A. wilhelmince, in 



