Birds of Gazaland, Southern Rhodesia. 207 
veld east of Mafusi’s, in June 1900. The birds leave the forest 
daily at sunrise, and fly, screaming, in parties of from two 
to eight, to their feeding-grounds throughout the surround- 
ing country, frequently covering considerable distances. 
At sunset they return, settling on the bare topmost branches 
of the tallest lightning-struck Khayas, which generally pro- 
trude above the general forest-level, and after a short halt 
for rest and conversation—their notes when settled are 
mostly of a milder and more conversational nature than the 
harsh screams uttered in flying—proceed towards the heart 
of the forest. I have never found one of their actual 
roosting-places. They are extremely punctual, aud on misty 
mornings or rainy days, when without a clock, the shrieks of 
the Parrots passing overhead have frequently been my only 
indication that it was time to commence or to knock off 
work. The natives, too, regard them in the light of time- 
pieces in such weather. Though asarule shy and extremely 
difficult of approach, if one of a party has been shot or 
merely slightly wounded the rest will circle round with 
loud cries, returning time after time to the same spot, and 
I have little doubt that, if anyone should so desire, he 
might sometimes kill every bird. Apparently adults of this 
species do not take kindly to confinement; out of several 
which, to my knowledge, have been caged in this neigh- 
bourhood, not one appears to have survived for more than a 
few weeks. According to the natives, in the Jihu and other 
parts where Kafir-corn (Sorghum) is grown the Parrots are 
in the habit of biting off the ripe heads and carrying them 
away to hollow trees, where they lay up a store for the time 
when the crops are off the land. 
134. PaocerHaLus ruscicaPitLus. Brown-headed Parrot. 
A single specimen of this Parrot was brought to me in 
April 1895 by a native, who had caught it with bird-lime 
in the Jihu; it lived in my aviary till November, when it 
died. Though wild enough for a time, it was remarkably 
tame for a fortnight or so before its death, climbing down 
daily to my hand and picking the grains from a mealie- 
