ii8 



PARROTS. 



brown, and the foot gre}'. The total length of the bird is 11^ inches. It is a 

 native of Bolivia, Paragua}', Argentina, and Uruguay. The most interesting 

 point in connection with this parrot is its habit of building nests in trees, 

 whereby it differs from all other members of the order ; our illustration repre- 

 senting one of these nests built hy a pair in captivity in one corner of their 

 cage. Darwin states that these birds in Parana select tall trees in which to 

 build ; and that a number of nests are placed so close together as to form one 

 great mass of sticks. The}^ always associate in immense flocks, and commit 



SLIGHT-BILLED PARRAQUET (J liat. size 



great ravages on tlie corn-crops. On this account they are much persecuted by 

 the inhabitants, Darwin relating that as many as two thousand five hundred of 

 these birds were killed near Colonia in the course of a year. In some districts the 

 nests are constructed in the trees growing in swamps, and attain a huge size ; each 

 nest generally having several entrances, and being frequented by two or three 

 pairs of birds. On this account the name of swamp-parrot is frequently applied 

 to the species. From observations made on captive specimens, it appears that 

 althougli the cock aids in building the nest, the work of incubation is performed 

 by the hen alone ; the usual number of eggs being two. 



