GREY PARROT. 49 



From their own immediate domain the Parrots drive away all other 

 birds, both great and small, — if necessary combining for that purpose. 



"The only enemy they meet with are the Kites (Milvus parasiticus) 

 of the neighbouring island of St. Thomas; it sometimes happens that 

 a Kite does, either by design or accident, find its way to Prince's 

 Island, but no sooner is the intruder observed than the alarm is raised, 

 the Parrots hasten up from all parts, and in a very short time the 

 luckless bird is either killed or driven away. 



"During the day, when flying about in flocks, the Parrots never 

 settle on a tree, unless satisfied that it is a safe resting-place. They 

 are very suspicious, and always on the alert, taking notice of everything 

 that occurs in their vicinity. They are more prudent and sharp than 

 the native, quicker than the monkey; they require no tools to crack 

 the hard nuts, and are consequently the most independent of the living 

 creatures on that island. 



"On Prince's Island there is a very lofty mountain, reaching some 

 1200 feet above the level of the sea, and called by the natives Tico 

 de Papagaio', or Peak of the Parrot. On the slope of this mountain, 

 and extending far up its side, is a magnificent forest. The trees are 

 of great size and height, and their trunks and branches give support 

 to the lianos and other climbing plants, which hang about them in 

 rich luxuriant folds. The density of the forest is so great that it is 

 only with the utmost difficulty and toil the explorer can force a passage 

 through it, while to the Parrots, who come up there every night, it 

 presents no obstacle, but gives them, under the shelter of its thick 

 foliage, a secure and pleasant resting-place. 



"As sunset draws on, the Parrots may be seen in parties winging 

 their way for the mountain from all sides of the island, and on reaching 

 it take their places on the trees. Approaching troops acquaint their 

 fellows of their coming by a loud whistling. Those of them who have 

 found an approved resting-place warble and whistle as long* as day- 

 light continues, but as darkness closes in the noise gradually subsides, 

 and all becomes hushed. Occasionally, however, a few sounds may be 

 heard at intervals after dark, which most probably proceed from some 

 belated bird seeking a place or a quarrel: sometimes in the dead of 

 the night the whole colony is thrown into an uproar, occasioned, I 

 believe, by the visit of bats or of some predacious animal. 



"There was one flock in particular, consisting of about forty in- 

 dividuals, that attracted my special attention; every evening at nearly 

 the same time, namely, half -past five, they would pass over mj house 

 on their way to the mountain. I used to follow them with the eye, 

 and always found that they settled on the same tree. 



II. e 



