The Zoologist — October, 1871. 2779 



be about a fortuigbt old, and readily took some banana I offered them. 

 The old birds were absent, probably seeking food ; at least we did not see 

 them. The two young ones we fastened with string to the trunk of the 

 tree, and placed some limed sticks round about them. In this way we 

 caught one of the parent birds, the securing of which was a matter of some 

 difficulty, owing to the resistance it made. We put the freshly-caught old 

 bird in a linen bag, and fastened it beside the young ones. In a few 

 minutes our captive began to turn round and round, at the same time 

 screaming vociferously : this quickly attracted the attention of the parrots 

 in the neighbourhood, which came near, gazing with astonishment at the 

 bag which contained their mysteriously-hidden comrade. One more bold 

 than the rest flew down and settled on a limed stick, but its struggles were 

 so violent that it succeeded in getting away. I then took my gun and shot 

 two individuals, the others immediately taking flight. 



" On the same morning we discovered two more nests ; one of them con- 

 tained three very young birds ; the other had only one egg. My man had 

 previously laid some snares, but no birds had been caught. AVe then 

 searched about among the trees in this part of the Pico de Papagaio, 

 and discovered several holes, many of which probably contained nests, 

 but we were not able to climb up to see, the trunks being so smooth and 

 thick. 



" We set out on our return for my plantation at noon, and arrived there 

 safely at 4 p. m. Although my excursion had furnished me with the small 

 result of six living parrots, three dead ones, and one egg, yet the exertion 

 this had entailed brought on a severe fever, which developed itself as soon 

 as I got home, and confined me to my house for several days. 



" While on the Pico I availed myself of such a favourable opportunity, 

 and took particular notice of the habits of this bird. The first thing 

 I observed was that it is always found in flocks, which flocks go about over 

 the island during the day, returning to their own appointed place on the 

 mountain in the evening to roost. Their food consists of fruits, such as the 

 palm-nut, the avocat (Laurus persea), the banana {Musa i^aradisea), goyave, 

 mango, and many other fruits of a similar kind, but they always give the 

 preference to palm-nuts. They drink but little, and as no water* is found on 

 the Pico they must obtain what they require during the day on the low- 

 land. They make no nest, but deposit their eggs (which are from two to 

 four in number) at the bottom of the hole. The eggs are in size, shape 

 and colour smaller to those of the wood pigeon {Columha palumhus) : when 

 unblown they are of a pinkish hue, which may be owing to the thinness of 

 the shell. Both birds take it by turns to sit, and while one is sitting the 

 other often comes and feeds it out of its crop. The young ones are fed in 

 the same way. In time of danger the old birds defend their progeny 

 vigorously, and should the enemy prove too strong to be successfully 



