Some Colony Birds. 331 



makes friends with everybody ; but to his master or mistress he reveals a 

 very intelligent and affectionate disposition, and will go to the length, 

 parrot- wise, of endeavouring to feed the one on whom he bestows his 

 affections, with food brought up from his crop. While one may 

 appreciate the sentiment, one can hardly be expected to accommodate 

 oneself to the mode of its expression. 



This bird would almost answer to the description of the Saurama ; 

 but as I have already said, the feathers are trimmer and the shape of the 

 bird more graceful. The following points must also be noted : the yellow 

 of the forehead, of a definite, mitre shape, is a of richer hue, and extends 

 to the cere ; the beak is red ; the purple blue of the wings is more 

 prominent ; the rectrices or tail feathers have at their base an inner web 

 of crimson ; and while the bastard wing is light green, there is on the 

 shoulders of the wings a prominent patch of crimson ; the green of the 

 body is lighter and brighter. There is only a narrow circle of bare white 

 8k in around the eye. 



I do not know why this species should be called ochrocephala, 

 (yellow-head) for there is less yellow on the head than on the head of the 

 Screecher. It is one of those many anomalies in scientific nomenclature 

 that shews these names are to be regarded, more or l<-ss, as mere labels. 



All these parrots make their nests high in the holes of trees. 

 Generally, a partly decayed tree is chosen and the hole whittled out by 

 their powerful beaks. They pair for life ; and though they fly in flocks 

 to the feeding grounds, always maintain their couples. At night or in 

 the morning they may be seen and heard as they return to their roosting 

 place or go forth to feed, flying high on laboured wing and screeching 

 as they fly ; the couples keeping as close together as if linked like chain- 

 shot. If required as pets they should be obtained young. The Indians 

 catch great numbers of these birds by stupifying them with smoke as 

 they roost at night. These never become tame. Again, the bir i may 

 be domesticated but may have incorrigibly bad habits , or he may have 

 been underfed. A male bird should be chosen for not only is he a much 

 finer bird, but has a more equable temperament. Females may be better 

 talkers, but in these birds the dictum of Rudyard Kipling is exemplified. 



"The female of the species is more dangerous than the male." 



