THE HAUNTS OF THE PARROT. IIQ 
hailed the first sight of a mountain palm. As it is 
never found at less than two thousand feet above the 
sea, its presence assured us of cool breezes; and not 
only of cool breezes but of possible approach to the 
region of the parrots. 
The great Imperial Parrot, the “Cicero” of the 
Indians, the Chrysotis augusta of ornithologists, 
delights to feed upon the seeds of this tree. We did 
not, however, hear any cry or noise betokening their 
presence, for at noon in the tropics all animal life is 
silent. 
We went up and on for several hours into a region 
of palms and “ gommier trees,” and at. last halted be- 
neath towering trees, on a carpet of green, where we 
threw ourselves upon the ground. My boys were 
soon refreshed and sprang up again to seek water, 
far down the hill. 
While they were gone I lay upon my back, study- 
ing the forms of the various trees above me. They 
formed a perfect canopy of green which the sun could 
not pierce. Exceeding all others in height, as well 
as in usefulness, is the tree known to the natives as 
the “ gommier,” or gum-tree (Bursera gummifera). 
Some of the trunks are eight feet in diameter, throw 
out huge buttresses on all sides, like the wall-supports 
of a Gothic church, and rise into the air one hundred 
feet. The seeds of this tree are favorite food of 
the parrots and wood-pigeons. Its branches and 
trunk are completely hidden in a wealth of parasitic 
growth and lianes. This is the tree used by the 
Caribs, even at the present day, for their canoes. 
From a single trunk they hollow out, by means of 
fire and axe, a canoe in the rough. This is most 
