C U R U G U I. 487 



note, (for at other times he is perfectly mute *,) by which the 

 haunts are difcovered. They begin to pair in April, and build in 

 the hole of a rotten tree, laying, three or foyr white eggs, about 

 as big as thofe of a Pigeon, oh the bare rotten duft ;- in defect of 

 this rotten matter, they are faid to b'ruife even found wood into 

 powder with their bill, which being fufficidntly ftrong and toothed, 

 may readily be fuppofed fully able to effect this. During the 

 incubation of the female, the male takes care to provide food for 

 her, and by his trivial fong, pleafant no doubt to her, to beguile 

 the time, which, without fuch incitements, might feem too long. 

 — The young, when firft hatched, are quite bare of feathers j the 

 head feems large, out of all proportion, and the legs, though 

 fhort in the adult, feem too long. The parents feed thefe with 

 fmall worms, caterpillars, and injefts ; and, when able to fhift for 

 themfelves, forfake them, and return to their folitary haunts, 

 till nature prompts them to produce their fecond brood, in 

 Augufi and September* 



It has been tried to bring up thefe birds tame, but without 

 effect, for they refufe to eat, and die in confequ-ence. Monfieur 

 Dejbayes, to whom we are indebted for the above, obferves, that 

 they are called at St. Domingo, Le Cakfon rouge,, and in other 

 iflands, Demoi/elle, or Dame anglcife. 



» They never make any noife except while the female is fitting, for the 

 moment the young are hatched, they again become filent- 



