THE ZooLogist—AvuGusT, 1875. 4549 
Notes on the Natural History of South Africa. 
By R. B. and J. D. S. Woopwarp, of Natal. 
(Continued from S, S. 4513.) 
Parrots and .Louries.— The principal representative of the 
Psittacine is the green parrot (Psittacus Levaillantii). It is a 
beautiful bird, of a shining grass-green colour; wings and tail 
brown, some of the feathers tipped with green; head and neck 
silvery gray; forehead, outer edge of wings, and the knees bright 
scarlet. It is thirteen inches in length. These parrots are gre- 
_ garious in their habits, and congregate in large numbers in the 
upper districts of Natal, but we have not met with them on the 
coast. ‘They frequent the highest trees, sitting quietly during the 
day, but as evening draws on they fly out in search of food, making 
the woods resound with their shrill cries. Owing to their wild 
nature they are rather difficult of approach, but we secured a 
specimen which was shot in a forest near the Umzimkulu river. 
The Dutch in the Free State often tame this bird, which they say 
can be taught to speak fluently. A farmer having kept a pair of 
these parrots for some time confined in a cage, gave them their 
liberty, on which, instead of leaving, they took possession of an old 
pigeon house, where they laid their eggs and reared their young: 
they remained for two seasons, and used to fly in at the sitting- 
room window to be fed. The young birds, as soon as they were 
fledged, left for the woods. With regard to their nidification, 
M. Le Vaillant says they breed in hollow trees, and lay four white 
eggs, about the size of those of a pigeon. 
The bluewinged parrakeet (Psiitacula passerina) is also found 
here: it is much smaller than the green parrot, and is rather local 
in its habitat. It is said to be common in the neighbourhood of 
Durban, where we obtained one. The colour is bluish green, the 
wings and crown of the head being blue. 
The Touracou or Lourie (Turacus musophagus) is perhaps the 
most elegant and lovely bird in Natal: including its long tail, 
measuring eight inches, it is eighteen inches in length. Its plumage 
is dark metallic-green ; face and breast green-gray ; the under por- 
tions of the wings are deep crimson, which is very conspicuous when 
the bird is flying; its splendid crest is of the same colour as the 
breast, and tipped with white. We constantly see this beautiful bird 
SECOND SERIES—VOL, X. 20 
