180 CANARIES AND CAGE-BIRDS. 



All classes of Parrots appear to travel in troops in their native woods ; and, in 

 many instances, they build regular settlements in mountainous districts, so inacces- 

 sible that it is impossible to dislodge them. While travelling from one place to 

 another, each male selects his mate ; and he takes it upon himself to protect her 

 and feed her, and always appears with her, no matter where the flock may go. 



It may be mentioned, that Parrots are more destructive to the crops in their na- 

 tive countries than any other class of birds. The multitudes which assemble upon 

 the fields, or alight on the fruit-trees, devour all they can upon the spot, bite off still 

 more, and carry away as much as possible up into the trees, in order to try to 

 peaceably fill their never-filled stomachs. When they make their appearance in the 

 orchard, they search every tree that is in fruit, and pluck such as nuvv be ripe, bite 

 a bit off, and, if it does not exactly suit their very refined taste, throw it down upon 

 the ground, and take another instead. While feeding they generally climb the 

 branches from below upwards, and, as soon as they get to the top, fly away to 

 another tree, sweeping over the ground without ever moving their wings. Arrived 

 at this second tree, they renew their work of destruction as before. 



After having satisfied their hunger in this manner, they go in search of water to 

 drink, and, according to the observations of travellers, do not refuse salt or brack- 

 ish water. Besides occasional rain-baths, which they enjoy hugely, they will bathe 

 in lakes until they are soaked through. They also enjoy playing in the sand, like 

 fowls, and will travel great distances in search of it. 



The incubation of these birds takes place during the months that correspond in 

 their native lands to our spring. The larger kinds appear to lay but once a year, 

 and then only two eggs ; though some of the smaller kinds, such as the Australian 

 Paroquet, are exceptions to this rule, inasmuch as they will regularly lay from three 

 to four eggs, and in some cases from six to nine, twice, or even three times, during 

 the year. Parrot-eggs are generally white, smooth, and round. Holes in trees are 

 favorite nesting-places of these birds, but not exclusively so : some American 

 species will lay in holes in the rocks ; and the Indian parrots, in crevices in old 

 buildings, pagodas, monuments, or houses. 



Audubon assures us that several females will lay in one nesting-place, but this 

 is considered doubtful ; although Parrots prefer breeding m large settlements. An 

 extensive traveller, speaking of a large settlement of breeding Parrots in South 

 America, says, "These several settlements must be very astonishing to those to 

 whom they are new. Fancy yourself alone, about mid-day, wearily approaching a 

 precipice, believing yourself to be perfectly alone, that deep silence reigning around 

 you that always indicates noon in these tropical regions, when all animals seek 

 repose in sleep ; a kind of growling strikes your ear ; suddenly you hear the Parrot's 

 cry of warning, answered by many others, and, before you are awake to your true 

 position, are surrounded by swarms of these noisy birds, flying about in a close 

 circle, and in evident anger, threatening to strike you. From all the innumerable 

 holes upon the face of the rocks, little round heads are protruding, looking comical 

 enough ; and those that do not come out unite their screams to the general uproar. 

 Every opening indicates a breeding-hole, that has been excavated by its owner in 

 the clay met with between the strata of the rocks. At times many hundreds may be 

 counted." 



