312 NATURAL HISTOET. 



We go close to the tree, but all is silent, and still as death ; we institute a careful survey of every 

 part with the eye, to detect the slightest motion, or the form of a bird among the leaves, but in vain ; 

 we begin to think that they have stolen off imperceived, but on throwing a stone into the tree, a dozen 

 throats burst forth into cry, and as many green birds rush forth upon the wing. The screaming of 

 this and the following species differs from that of the Parrakeet, so far as to be easily distinguished. 

 That of the latter consists of a series of harsh screeches, of comparative length ; that of the Parrots is. 

 less shrill, more broken into short and rapid articulations, forming a series of varying length, separated 

 by momentary pauses. It is, in fact, much more like a hurried chattering." 



THE GREY PARROT (Psittacus erythacus). 



This familiar cage-bird is a native of Africa, and it would appear to have been a favourite in 

 England for a longer period than can be traced. They were held in great estimation at the court 

 of the "Merry Monarch" Charles II., for his Queen Catharine of Braganza had a parrot-keeper, at a, 

 salary of 36 per annum, while the maids of honour received only 10 a year each, and the " mother 

 of the maids " 20 per annum. Therefore, the custodian of the Parrots was better paid by 16 than 

 the lady who held the very responsible post of care-taker of the maids of honour.* A Grey Parrot 

 which lived for forty years with the Duchess of Richmond and Lennox, who died in 1702, and who- 

 was a celebrated beauty at the court of Charles II., is preserved in Westminster Abbey along with 

 the effigy of that lady, having survived its mistress only a few days. 



It is strange that for a bird which has so long been one of the chief pets in Europe, so little is 

 known of its habits in a wild state, and at the present time not a single authentic egg of this species, 

 taken in its native haunts, is known to exist. Occasionally it lays in confinement a white egg, like 

 other Picarian birds, but it is probably from the care with which the species selects its breeding-place- 

 that it has been so difficult to find their nest and eggs. The only naturalist who appears to have 

 discovered the latter appears to be the celebrated natural history artist, Mr. Keulemans, who spent 

 nearly two years in West Africa, and has written the best account of the Grey Parrot in a state of 

 nature,t as observed by him on Ilha do Principe, or Prince's Island, in the Bight of Biafra. Here it 

 is very common, and breeds in the month of December in the very thickest forests. Only one pair 

 breed in each tree, laying five eggs in a hole thereof, but a large number nest in close proximity to each 

 other, many hundreds breeding in the same area, according to the above-named author. Both parents- 

 take a share in the rearing of the young birds, sitting by turns, the one who is thus relieved bringing 

 food to its mate and feeding it out of its crop, which method is also adopted in the care of the young 

 birds. The food of the Grey Parrot is stated to consist of palm-nuts, the arocat (Laurus persea), the- 

 banana (Musa paradisea), goyare, mango, and many other fruits of a smaller size; but it always- 

 gives the preference to palm-nuts. On Prince's Island, writes Mr. Keulemans, there is " a very lofty 

 mountain, reaching some 1,200 feet above the level of the sea, and called by the natives ' Pico de 

 Papagaio,' or Peak of the Parrots. On the slope of this mountain, and extending far up its side, is a 

 magnificent forest. The trees are of great size and height, and their trunks and branches give support 

 to the lianas and other climbing plants, which hang about them in luxurious folds. The density of 

 the forest is so great that it is only with the greatest difficulty and toil that the explorer can force his- 

 way through it ; while to the Parrots who come up there every night it presents no obstacle, but 

 gives them, under the shelter of its thick foliage, a secure and pleasant resting-place." 



Another observer in West Africa, Dr. Reichenow, found the Grey Parrot breeding in West Africa, 

 in the low-lands along the streams and groves of mangrove, and the great difficulty of traversing these 

 swamps is, according to him, the reason why their bi-eeding habits are not better known. They are 

 very destructive to the crops of Indian corn, which they visit in large flocks, wasting as much as they 

 consume. They proceed to roost in flocks, selecting the same route each night ; and Governor Ussher 

 says that, whilst up the river Addo, near Lagos, he has seen them crossing at sunset from their 

 feeding-grounds to their roosting-places, when they presented the appearance of one continuous flock 

 passing at a great distance overhead, their screams and chattering being heard long after darkness has 



* G. D. Rowley, " Ornithological Miscellany," Vol. I , p. 175. t "Natural History of Cage-birds," Part I. 



