344 



OUR SEARCH FOR A WILDERNESS. 



thick and hairy hind legs, an orange collar across the front 

 of the thorax and an equally broad band of yellow on the 

 abdomen (Centis americana). 



Among the most interesting birds which we found nesting 

 were Dusky Parrots. 66 About one hundred yards from the 

 clearing we observed two red-breasted Parrots fly from a 



FIG. 140. YOUNG DUSKY PARROTS. 



hole about forty feet up in a tall dead kakeralli tree. We 

 watched the tree, morning and afternoon for several days, 

 often for an hour at a time, but neither saw nor heard anything 

 of the birds. Fearing that we had been deceived in thinking 

 they were nesting we had a black cut down the tree, but no 

 sooner had the dust settled from the de'bris of rotten wood 

 than a chorus of raucous cries arose, and four young Parrots, 

 nearly fledged, were gathered into a hat. 



