68 HOURS WITH NATURE. 



in Calcutta. It fed on large hard American nuts, 

 which the owner said he could with difficulty break with 

 a hammer. Yet I saw the bird cracking them with eas e 

 and extracting the kernel. Parrots are evidently fond of 

 the seeds of sunflower, as I have often seen small flocks 

 of Ring-necked Parrakeets, our common Tiya, frequent- 

 ing gardens during the winter to feed upon the ripening 

 seeds of sunflowers, and again during the rains, when 

 the R'ldha Padma, an allied species, flowers and sets 

 seeds. At breeding times they generally cut a circular 

 hole in the trunk of some tree, and lay several white 

 eggs. I have, however, seen Ring-necked Parrakeets 

 breeding in small circular air passages in walls of old 

 buildings. Although there are several species of parrots 

 found in India, none of them is remarkable for brilliancy 

 of plumage. As far as I have been able to find out, 

 parrots of gorgeous plumage appear to inhabit mostly 

 the Milayan Archipelago, extending as far as Australia. 

 America too can boast of some bright-coloured species. 

 In the bird market of the Territibazar I have seen 

 parrots from almost all parts of the world, America, 

 Australia, Africa, the Malayan Archipelago, India, 

 Burmah, Ceylon, the Andaman and Nicobar islands 

 Europe does not appear to possess them. Ordinari- 

 ly, parrots are fond of living together in large 

 flocks, which often rend the air with their loud 

 screams. 



Of the various species of Indian parrots, the follow- 

 ing are generally made pets of : 



