The Zoologist — October, 1871. 2775 



" The numerous vessels from the African coast thai put into the port of 

 Lisbon keep the dealers of that city well supplied with these birds. 

 Scarcely a ship leaves the localities of the parrots without the sailors 

 bringing a larger or smaller number away mth them, and in this way the 

 grey parrot becomes plentifully distributed thi'ough France and Germany. 

 Very frequently the sailors of EngUsh ships touching at Lisbon become 

 purchasers of these parrots, and sell them, on reaching Liverpool, to the 

 dealers there, from whom the London bird-fanciers obtain their largest 

 supply. 



" The grey parrot is also a common house-bird in Holland and Belgium, 

 while in most countries of Eastern and South-Easteru Europe it is rarely 

 seen, although a well-known bird. 



" The range of the grey parrot is limited to the Western Coast of Africa, 

 and extends for some distance into the interior. It is common on the Gold 

 Coast and adjacent islands ; but is curiously distributed among these latter. 

 On Prince's Island we iiud these birds in great abundance, while on the 

 neighbouring island of St. Thomas not a grey parrot is to be seen — a fact 

 to be accounted for by the large numbers of the kite [Milviis parasiticus) 

 inhabiting the latter island. 



"Although a familiar cage-bird very little is known about its habits when 

 iu a wild state. It is therefore with much satisfaction that I find myself 

 able, from personal observation, to communicate many new and interesting 

 particulars concerning it, which I liope may prove acceptable to my readers, 

 and at the same time enable them to form some idea of the vie privee of 

 this favourite. 



" At Prince's Island, which may not inappropriately be termed the 

 Paradise of the grey parrots, I resided for more than a year," and during 

 that time I daily carefully observed their habits and mode of life in the 

 natural state. Nowhere on the continent of Africa are these birds so 

 plentiful, nowhere so free and undisturbed. On Prince's Island they are 

 supreme among the birds ; they stand in no dread of the other feathered 

 inhabitants, but are feared and respected by them. From their own 

 immediate domain the parrots drive away all other birds, both great and 

 small, — if necessary combining for that purpose. The only enemy they 

 meet with are the kites from the neighbouring island of St. Thomas : it 

 sometimes happens that a kite does, either by design or accident, find its 

 way to Prince's Island, but no sooner is the intruder observed than the 

 alarm is raised, the parrots hasten up from all parts, and in a very short 

 time the luckless bird is either killed or driven awaj^ 



" During the day, when flying about in flocks, the parrots never settle 

 on a tree, unless satisfied that it is a safe resting-place. They are very 

 suspicious, and always on the alert, taking notice of everything that occurs 

 in their vicinity. They are more prudent and sharp than the native, 



