296 BIRDS OF WESTERN AND 



required for the advancement of the science, as well as a new addition to the drawings in my portfolio, I no 

 longer hesitated, but selecting the most adult and distant one from me, fired and killed it. The report of my 

 gun awakened the entire grove from its drearny spell. The greatest tumult ensued ; they were terror stricken, 

 but they knew not the cause ; one of their number lay weltering upon the ground in the agonies of the last 

 struggle for life. Around this they gathered, unmindful of my presence, perching upon the low brush over 

 it, and even upon the ground, when suddenly their chattering, whistling voices ceased, and they all seemed to 

 gaze with mute amazement, doubtless for the first time, on the strange mystery of death. 



"I soon found that I did not require my fowling-piece to procure specimens; they were so remarkably 

 tame as to be easily taken with a running noose "fixed on the end of a rod. Three cages were filled by the 

 boys, but were unfortunately left, owing to our sudden and unexpected departure from the island, I, how- 

 ever, brought away a suflicient number of skins.'' 



168. Conurus petzii (Hahn.). 



Mazatlan, Grayson, Bischoff; Plains of Colima, Manzanilla Bay, Rio de Coahuyana, 

 Xantus. 



" This species is common and resident." 



169. Ghrysotis levaillantii Gray. 



" " Proc. Bost. Soc. of N. H., xiv., p. 271. 



Tres Marias, Grayson ; Tupila River, Rio de Coahuyana, Xantus. 



" It is only within very recent years that one of the Tres Marias Islands has become partially inhabited by 

 the cutters of Cedra, and as recently as 1865, when I visited these islands for the first time, I found these 

 birds so tame and unsuspecting at the approach of a human being, as to be easily taken by simply putting a 

 running noose of twine upon the end of a slender pole, and slipping it gently over the head while they are 

 busy feeding among the low branches, or quietly sitting upon a limb of a tree. Many of the parrots are cap- 

 tured by the woodcutters and sold to the vessels touching there for a cargo of timber. They are also carried 

 to Tepic, San Bias, Mazatlan, and other points on the coast, and sold at from one to five dollars. Upon a 

 subsequent visit to these islands, in 1867, on my return from Socorro Island, I found that their numbers had 

 diminished considerably, and they had become so shy as to be difficult to approach ; they had learned the arts 

 and tricks of man, and kept him at a respectful distance. 



"I saw nests of this parrot, all in the hollows of large trees, one only of which I was able to reach; this 

 was in a large smooth bark tree, known here as 'Palo Prieto '; the eggs (two in number) lay upon the bare 

 rotten wood, which had been a little scooped out, forming a slight indentation. The eggs are a clear white, a 

 good deal larger than those of a tame pigeon, and of an elliptical form.'' 



170. Ghrysotis alhifrons (Sparrm.). 



" " Finsch, Abh. nat. Ver. zu Bremen, 1870, p. 352. 



Mazatlan, Grayson, Bischoflf. 



" This lovely species inhabits the warmer regions of Western Mexico, and is closely allied to the Red-fronted 

 Parrot ; although it is smaller, and its plumage more brilliant, yet its natural habits are so nearly similar that 

 the description of one would answer for the other. They are found in the same localities, and subsist upon 

 the same kind of food. But the flocks keep separate, never assimilating with its near congener. They are, 

 however, not so numerous as the red-fronted species. It is easily domesticated when taken young, and can be 

 taught to utter words very clearly. It is a great favorite with the natives." 



171. Ghrysotis finschii G. R. Gray. 



Mazatlan, Grayson, Xantus, BischofF; Rio de la Ameria, Colima, Xantus. 



"The Red-fronted Parrot is distinguished by a rather prominent forehead of peach red or dark carmine, the 

 feathers composing it are short and bristly ; the bill nearly white or pale yellow, and the tongue black. It is 



