PSITTACUS ERITHACUS. 167 



Kosanga. The bird is still more numerous in the Niam-niam district, where 

 Schweinfurth discovered it. Dr. Schweinfurth gives many interestino- 

 particulars in his work on Africa, too long to mention. 



Psittacus eritliacus has, by mistake, been placed in the Cape-Verd 

 islands by Schmidt. According to Brehm it was formerly introduced into 

 the islands of Mauritius and Bourbon, but again exterminated, because it was 

 so dangerous to plantations. 



Mr. Keulemans gives the best account of the habits of the bird in 

 question, and says it is very numerous on Prince's Island, that it eats seeds 

 and fruits (chiefly palm-nuts), and breeds in December, after the rainy 

 season. Its nest is situated in a deep hollow tree, where it lays five eggs ; 

 and this being in the thickest wood renders discovery difficult. There is 

 only one nest in each tree ; but in the same area are often many hundred 

 pairs breeding. The parents defend their nests ; therefore the natives catch 

 the young ones just after leaving it, thinking their fingers might be in danger 

 before. In the evening the Parrots go to their roosting-places, and associate 

 in hundreds. This species is not friendly with other birds. 



Mr, Keulemans's zeal in watching this species entailed a severe fever. 

 I cannot do better than quote a few observations of his, from his ' Natural 

 History of Cage-birds ' (part i. p. 7) : — 



The food of P. eritliacus " consists of the palm-nut, the avocat (^Laurus 

 persea), the banana (Musa paradisea), goyave, mango, and many other fruits 

 of a smaller size ; but it always gives the preference to palm-nuts. These 

 birds drink little. Both sit by turns ; and while one is sitting the other 

 often comes and feeds it out of its crop. The young ones are fed in the 

 same way. 



" The Grey Parrot dehghts to dwell in companies. Many nests are 

 found within a few feet of each other ; and often in one tree two or more 

 holes may be seen occupied by hatching pairs. 



" The young birds are covered with a long and fluffy down, which 

 afterwards (when moulting) falls off. Their first plumage is darker, and the 



2 A 



