334 BIRDS OF BRITISH GUIANA. 



Ilahif.t. Scliomburgk writes (Reis. Guian. iii. p. 726) tliat tliis 

 l»eautiful Parrot was distributed over the ^rreater portion of British 

 Guiana, though not so very coninion. It was, as a rule, seen in 

 pairs, but rarely in small flocks. In its mode of life it differed 

 somewhat from the preceding species = ^?«aco«a ostiva. 



It prefers the lower forests and flies low^ never high in the air. 

 It aj)pears to favour the settlements, where one often hears its long 

 dr.iwn-out note, " Hia-Hia,'' and this is the name by which the 

 bird is known to the settlers and natives. It is rather a delicate 

 bird and cannot stand any hardship, but it is easily tamed, though 

 it did not talk easily. When an^rry it raises its beautiful neCA- 

 feathers, which form a kind of fan at the back of the head. It 

 breeds in the holes of trees and lavs two eggs. 



The " Macusis " call it Wanakia and the "Warraus" 

 Paratakia. 



Mr. C. A. Lloyd, writing on Gaiana Purrots, remarks as 

 follows (Timehri (2) ix. p. 272): — '^ One of the most curious of tlie 

 Guiana Parrots is the ' Hia-Hia,' Deroptijus acdjiitrinns. Its 

 erectile crest and hawk-like aspect have earned for it the name of 

 the Hawk-headed Parrot, and will serve to distinguish it at once 

 from any other species. It is generally met with in small 

 flocks of from ten to twenty, though occasionally solitary pairs are 

 seen, but these appear to be old birds." 



Genus PIONOPSITTA Bonap. 



Pionopsitta Bonaparte, Rev. Zool. lSo4, p. 152. Tyjxi P. pihata 

 (Scop.). 



This genus is distinguished by the short tail, with its pointed 

 feathers, which is less than half the length of the wing. 



215. Pionopsitta caica. 



Caica Parrot. 



PsHtocus caica Lath. Ind. Om. i. \). 128, 1790 (Cavenne). 

 P,sittacus pileaius Cab. in Schomlj. Keis. Guian. iii. p. 723, 184-8. 

 Caica hisirio Salvin, Ibi.s, 18SG, p. G9 (Camacasa, Bartica Grove). 

 Pionopsitta caica Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xx. j?. 345, 1891 (Carimang 

 Biver) ; Braboume & Chubb, B. S. Amer. i. p. 93, no. 877, 1912. 



Adult male. Entire back, wings, and tail green like the abdo- 



