Cape San Antonio, Buenos Ayres. 3 
13. BotBorHyncuus MonacHus. “ Loro.” 
In thousands. All the woods are full of their great nests, 
with their bright-coloured talkative denizens ; all day long 
rises their noisy chatter, drowning almost every other sound 
in wood and garden ; and, lastly, all the apples, pears, peaches, 
and medlars in said garden meet with their but too thorough 
appreciation. 
This species, like the last, is gregarious, feeding in flocks 
and building in communities. 
It is one, too, that I have rather an animosity against ; for, 
hike the Lapwing (Vanellus cayennensis) in the plains, it plays 
the part of sentinel to all its feathered neighbours. One steals 
gently through the underwood, stalking some wary bird of 
prey or flock of tree-building Teal, and glancing up in a de- 
precatory way at the Perroquets’ nests—but all in vain: 
the subdued chatter suddenly becomes an ominous silence 
(sufficient betrayal in itself) ; a hundred pairs of black beady 
eyes survey the intruder from the nests and neighbouring 
branches; and then there follows the whirring of as many 
wings, while a row arises that would put all the Rooks that 
ever “caw’d” to shame. Gone is the warned quarry, while 
the exasperated writer of these notes makes a hasty calculation 
as to which is the largest group of Perroquets, and knocks 
over half a dozen accordingly, “to encourage the rest.” 
The nests are frequented all the year round; and it is of 
rare occurrence to find any large one totally deserted during 
the day. 
During the summer and autumn the thistle is the principal 
food of B. monachus. In the former season the flowering 
thistle-heads are cut off, and generally carried to the top of 
the nearest tree, there to be pulled to pieces for the sake of 
the green kernel. In the autumn, when the ripe seeds have 
fallen, they are sought for on the ground. 
Early morning, just between daybreak and sunrise, is the 
favourite hour for their depredations in the garden, though 
scores frequent it during the day also. They never carry off 
the fruit, but gnaw at it as it hangs, abandoning one apple 
for another, and that for a third, in a most destructive manner. 
B2 
