THE PAREAKEETS. 315 



Saugor, and were killed. The Rose-ringed Parrakeet breeds both in holes in trees, and very com- 

 monly in the south of India about houses, in holes in old buildings, pagodas, tombs, &c. It lays 

 four white eggs. Its breeding season is from January to March. Adams states that he has seen 

 this Parrakeet pillage the nests of the Sand Martin ; but with what intent he does not guess at 

 Its ordinary flight is rapid, with repeated strokes of the wings, somewhat wavy laterally, or 

 arrowy. It has a harsh cry, which it always repeats when in flight, as well as at other times. 

 Mr. Philipps remarks that the Kite will sometimes swoop down on them when perched on a 

 tree, and carry one off in its talons ; also that Owls attack these birds by night.* 



The length of this species is about sixteen inches and a half. It is green with a black band 

 extending from under the chin backwards nearly to the nape, and having a rose-coloured collar 

 round the hind neck. The bill is cherry-red, the feet greyish, and the iris pale yellow. The 

 female does not possess the rose-coloured collar, but has instead a narrower one of emerald 

 green. 



THE CAROLINA CONURE (Conurus carolinemis). 



The Conures are inhabitants of the New World, and are very abundant in South America, but 

 one species, the Carolina Conure, penetrating into the Nearctic region above the line of North Mexico. 

 It is a very handsome bird, but is rapidly decreasing in numbers, and becoming restricted in its 

 range, so much so, that in places where it was once plentiful it is now no longer to be found at all. 

 Even in 1842, when Audubon wrote, they were then fast diminishing, and are now confined to the 

 Southern and South-western States, as far west as the Missouri river. The food of the Carolina 

 Conure is stated to consist chiefly of the seeds of the Cockle-burr (Xanthirum strumarium), but it is 

 also very partial to fruit of all kinds, and it is owing to the way in which it has been shot down that 

 it is now so rare, for Mr. Audubon describes the immense damage done by a flock of Conures to stacks 

 of grain, which they covered in such numbers that they presented to the eye the same effect as if a 

 brilliant-coloured carpet had been thrown over them. The farmers resented the attacks on their pro- 

 perty to such an extent that the same naturalist states that he has seen hundreds killed in the course of 

 a few hours, the survivors, after each shot, flying round for a few minutes, and then settling again in 

 a place of most imminent danger. Even in confinement the birds seem to develop their destructive 

 propensities, destroying wood, books, and, in short, everything that comes in their way, while from 

 their incapability of talk, and their harsh, disagreeable voices, they are not much esteemed as pets. 

 As Audubon observes, the woods are the habitation best fitted for them, and there the richness of 

 their plumage, their beautiful mode of flight, and even their screams, afford welcome intimation that 

 the darkest forests and most sequestered swamps are not destitute of charms. According to the same 

 observer, they deposit their eggs, without making a nest, in the bottoms of such cavities in trees as 

 those to which they usually retire at night. Many females deposit their eggs together, and he 

 believed that the number laid by each hen bird was two ; the eggs were greenish- white, and nearly 

 round, and the young are at first covered with soft down, such as is seen in nestling Owls. The colour of 

 this Parrot is green, the head and neck bright-yellow, and the forehead and region of the eye scarlet ; 

 the bill is white, the feet pale flesh-colour, and the iris hazel ; the length of the bird being about 

 fourteen inches. The female is like the male, but the young bird has the head green instead of 

 yellow. 



THE PARRAKEETS (Platycercina). 



These form the fourth sub-family, and are remarkable for their slender, smooth tarsus, which is 

 formed as in most birds ; and the voice is more agreeable than in the other genera, the membei-s of 

 which, almost without exception, have a harsh and unpleasant cry. They are mostly inhabitants of 

 Australia, whence come several of them well known as cage-birds, such as the King Parrakeet 



,._ O 



(rlatycercus scapulatus), the Rosella, or Rose Parrakeet (P. eximius), and in America they are repre- 

 sented by the single genus Bolborhynchus. 



* Jerdon, " Birds of India," I., p 258. 



