194 On the Breeding of a Hybrid Lorikeet , etc.


but what his hair was to Samson so is their spread tail to these

birds. On one occasion, a Peacock in full feather followed me

on my morning visit to the aforesaid island and, seeing a white

Swan sitting on her nest, was filled with the spirit of war.

Retiring to a distance he spread his tail, flapped his wings and

half ran, half sailed, with ever-increasing momentum, plump at

the sitting bird. The Swan rose up hissing and dangerous, and

I expected the worst consequences for her adversary. The

latter, however, retired in good order and once more, from a

distance, recommenced the charge. But the Swan could not

face the shock a second time and, flying precipitately, left the

Peacock preening himself in proud possession of the eggs.


% % ir


Of various Parrots I have kept, perhaps Bouquet’s Amazon

is the rarest. During a visit to the West Indies some years ago

I visited Dominica, and found a pair of these Amazons in a gin

shop in Roseau. After an animated discussion with the drunken

proprietor I obtained the birds for thirty shillings, and, fearing

lie might repent of his bargain, hurried off with one in each

hand, and spent the rest of the day in improvising a cage. Of

the other Parrot peculiar to Dominica I saw nothing. The

August Amazon inhabits the virgin forests which clothe the

most inaccessible parts of this mountainous island. It is known

to the natives by the strange name of “ Cicero,” and it is said

that not more than two individuals of this rare species are usually

seen at a time.


Chrysotis bouqueti, on the other hand, is gregarious and a

much commoner bird, inhabiting less unapproachable places.

Its local name is “ Jacko.” I was about to visit a plantation in

the district where it is found when an attack of fever cut short

my visit to the Island. As Canon Dutton noted some time ago

in these pages, Bouquet’s Amazon is not a talker and, considered

as a pet, is a handsome but stupid bird.


On two occasions Mr. Cross has sent me alien Grey Parrot,

which has subsequently deposited two white eggs in her cage.

The last of these liens I still possess, and occasionally she plays

at nest-making, persistently pecking at the bottom of her cage

and, with one leg, vigorously kicking imaginary fragments of



