2776 The Zoologist — October, 1871. 



quicker than the monkey ; they require no tools to crack the hard nuts, 

 and are consequently the most independent of the living creatures on that 

 island. 



" On Prince's Island there is a very lofty mountain, reaching some 1200 

 feet above the level of the sea, and called by the natives ' Pico de Papagaio,' 

 or Peak of the Parrot. On the slope of tliis mountain, and extending far 

 up its side, is a magnificent forest. The trees are of great size and height, 

 and their tmnks and branches give support to the Liauos and other 

 climbing-plants, which hang about them in rich luxuriant folds. The 

 density of the forest is so great that it is only with the utmost difficulty 

 and toil the explorer can force a passage through it, whUe to the parrots, 

 who come up there every night, it presents no obstacle, but gives them, 

 under the shelter of its thick foliage, a secure and pleasant resting-place. 



" As sunset draws on, the parrots may be seen in parties winging their 

 ■way for the mountain from all sides of the island, and on reaching it take 

 their places on the trees. Approaching troops acquaint their fellows of 

 their coming by a loud whistling. Those of them who have found an 

 approved resting-place warble and whistle as long as daylight continues, but 

 as darkness closes in, the noise gradually subsides, and all becomes hushed. 

 Occasionally, however, a few sounds may be heard at intervals after dark, 

 which most probably proceed from some belated bird seeking a place or a 

 quarrel : sometimes in the dead of the night the whole colony is thrown 

 into an uproar, occasioned, I believe, by the visit of bats or of some 

 predacious animal. 



" There was one flock in particular, consisting of about forty individuals, 

 that attracted my especial attention ; every evening at nearly the same 

 time, riz. half-past five, they would pass over my house on their way to the 

 mountain. I used to follow them with the eye, and always found that they 

 settled on the-same tree. 



" My house and plantation were situated at an elevation of some 1200 feet 

 above the sea-level, and opposite to the Pico de Papagaio, a valley being 

 between. From here I had an extensive view across to the Pico; and 

 observing a trail running in the direction of the tree which this particular 

 flock of paiTots had taken for their resting-place, I determined to pay them 

 a visit. As the distance did not seem to be very great, I thought that by 

 following the path visible from my house I should have little difficulty in 

 reaching the wished-for spot without either guide or assistance. 



"Accordingly, on the IGth January, 1805, I set out unaccompanied, at 

 daybreak, for the place in question, and soon reached the edge of the forest, 

 but before I had penetrated very far it became evident that my plan was not 

 so easy of execution as I had imagined, for that which from my window 

 looked like a path turned out to be merely a rough track or trail, overrun 

 with rank vegetation, which only served mc for a short distance, and then 



