47 The Cuckoo-like Birds 



perhaps fifty birds, near the head waters of the Sebastian River in eastern Florida, 

 where their favorite food seemed to be the seeds of a large thistle, and Mr. Ridg- 

 way discovered a somewhat larger colony in southern Florida. The cockle-bur 

 was formerly a favorite food, and it was their custom to feed in the early morning 

 hours, after which they retired to hollow trees to spend the warmer part of the 

 day, venturing forth again toward evening. They are said to roost at night in 

 hollow trees, clinging side by side in an upright position to the sides of the cavity 

 by means of bill and feet. The Carolina Parakeet makes an engaging though 

 usually quiet and demure pet, acquiring an affection for its attendant, but not 

 being apt at the imitation of human language. They breed, though rather 

 irregularly, in captivity, laying sometimes four or five eggs; but of their nesting 

 habits in a state of nature we are practically in ignorance. They are said to 

 place the nest in a hollow tree and to deposit two eggs, but exact data on the 

 subject are wanting. 



Argentine Green Parakeet. Passing over four or five small and a single 

 large genus which agree with the Conures in having the orbital ring complete, 

 we come to the final genera of the group in which this ring is incomplete, a good 

 representative being the Common Green Parakeet (Myopsittacus monachus] of 

 Argentina and near-by countries. In this genus the. bill is rather swollen on 

 the sides and the nostrils hidden by the feathers, which project forward from 

 its base. About eleven inches long, this species has the general color green, 

 with the top of the head, lores, cheeks, throat, and breast gray, the feathers with 

 paler margins, while the under parts are yellowish green, the wings blackish 

 with slight bluish edgings, and the bill reddish white. The Green Parakeet, 

 Mr. Hudson tells us, is a well-known and resident species in Argentina, though 

 much less common than formerly, being a lively, restless bird, shrill-voiced, and 

 exceedingly vociferous, living and breeding in large communities. "The nests 

 are suspended from the extremities of the branches to which they are firmly 

 woven. New nests consist of only two chambers, the porch and the nest proper, 

 and are inhabited by a single pair of birds. Successive nests are added, until 

 some of them come to weigh a quarter of a ton, and contain material enough to 

 fill a large cart. Thorny twigs, firmly interwoven, form the only material, and 

 there is no lining in the breeding chamber, even in the breeding season. Some 

 old forest trees have seven or eight of these huge structures suspended from the 

 branches, while the ground underneath is covered with twigs and remains of 

 fallen nests. The entrance is generally underneath, or if at the side is protected 

 by an overhanging eave to prevent the intrusion of opossums. These entrances 

 lead into the porch or outer chamber, and the latter communicates with the 

 breeding chamber. The breeding chambers are not connected with each other, 

 and each set is used by one pair of birds." The nests are repaired and frequented 

 all the year round, but new nests are only added at the approach of spring. The 

 breeding season begins about November i, and as many as seven or eight eggs 

 are laid, these being dull white and very thin shelled. In the neighborhood of 

 Concepcion, Mr. Barrows found them abundant and familiar, being usually seen 

 in flocks of twenty and upward, visiting grain-fields, gardens, etc., but some- 



