PARROTS 185 



The last representative of the family is a plain ashy-grey 

 bird {ChizaerMs concolor), the " Go-away " bird of English 

 Colonists, and " Groote Muis-vogel " (Big Mousebird) of the 

 Boers, which latter name is very appropriate as it is very 

 much like an over-grown Mousebird. It has a long crest 

 of decomposed feathers. Length, about 18 inches. 



It inhabits Central and Northern South Africa south- 

 wards to Zululand, but is not found in Natal, the Cape 

 Colony or Orange Free State. In the Pretoria District 

 along the Crocodile Eiver, north of Hartebeest Poort, it 

 is fairly common, uttering its harsh cry of " guay, 

 guay ! " in the evening. It is rather wild in that 

 region, consequently not easily shot. 



PARROTS 



The Parrot Tribe {Psittaci) is very poorly represented 

 in South Africa. 



The best known species is probably the Eed-shouldered 

 Parrot (Poicephalus robustus), which is fairly dull coloured 

 and about the size of the ordinary Grey Parrot of talking 

 fame. The rump, upper tail coverts, lower breast and 

 belly are grass green, and there is a vermilion band round 

 the edge of the wing. Length, 13 J to 14 inches. 



It is found from Zuurberg in Cape Colony to Mashonaland. 

 In Eastern Cape Colony it is probably commonest in the 

 Pirie Forest, near Kingwilliamstown. 



These birds are gregarious in habits and denizens of the 

 thick bush and forest tracts. 



Brown-headed Parrot {P.fuscicollis), green all over except 

 the head and neck, which is grey tinged with yellowish. 

 Under wing-coverts yellow. Length, about 9 inches. 



