252 CONURUS CAROL1NENS1S. 



to fraternize with a pet Owl which did not at all fancy the noisy Parokeet and, when- 

 ever it approached, would fly to another part of the room, followed by his pretentious friend 

 which thus moved when he did, keeping so persistently by the side of the poor Owl as to 

 cause him considerable annoyance. This same Parokeet, before I owned it, contracted a 

 strong friendship for a large White Cockatoo. These birds were kept in the same cage 

 and, as the liking, in this case, was mutual, they would sit as closely together as possi- 

 ble, the bright green Parokeet being half buried among the snowy feathers of its huge 

 companion. My Parokeet exhibited an attachment for all kinds of birds, even taking a 

 fancy to a Red-winged Blackbird which often proved a source of trouble to it, however, 

 for it would enter the Parokeet's cage, the door of which frequently stood open, in order 

 to eat the seeds which were scattered on the bottom. When Polly remonstrated at thus 

 having her food stolen, the Blackbird would fly at her fiercely and drive her out of her 

 cage which he would then occupy as long as he chose, much to the discomfiture of the 

 Parokeet. 



After witnessing such a strong predilection for companionship as is exhibited by the 

 Parokeets, the ornithologist will not be surprised to find that these birds breed in commu- 

 nities but it is certainly somewhat unexpected to learn that a number of pairs nest in one 

 hole, for this habit is without precedent, at least among our native species. Audubon made 

 the statement, that a number of females built in the same hole, many years ago but I do 

 not think that this fact has, up to the present time, ever been confirmed. While in Flor- 

 ida, I frequently asked hunters and others about the breeding habits of the Parokeets but 

 got nothing more definite than that they nested in the cypress swamps. At length, how- 

 ever, one of my guides told me that he knew of a cedar hunter who had seen them during 

 June, in the depths of a certain swamp, entering a hole in a huge cypress where they were 

 evidently breeding. As it was impossible for me to remain in Florida as late in the sea- 

 son as the time designated, I offered him a good sum for each egg which he should get. 

 Accompanied by the cedar hunter, he entered the cypress swamp about the middle of June 

 carefully following the old blazes (notches cut on the trees to mark the way) made by the 

 hunter some seasons before and, after traveling fo'r a day and a half through the gloomy 

 forests, came to the Iree which contained the nest. My informant states that there were 

 a large number of Parokeets about the tree and therefore they were certain of a good prize 

 but, judge of their disappointment, upon opening the hole, to find that it contained nothing 

 but young not an egg was to be discovered; thus they were obliged to retrace their steps, 

 bootiless, after having been three days in the swamp. I trust, however, that the next time 

 this journey is attempted, I may form one of the participants. 



The Carolina Parokeets once had a wide distribution, being found as far north in the 

 West as Lake Erie and in the East, as Pennsylvania. Even in Audubon's time, their range 

 was much restricted, for he states that their numbers were much diminished within his rec- 

 ollection and they have been steadily decreasing in numbers ever since, occupying less 

 and less territory year after year, until now, they are to be found in an exceedingly limited 

 area. Thus, within the last century, birds which could be counted by millions and which 

 roamed over vast sections of country, may now be numbered by thousands and occupy but 



