PERROQUET STARIKI. 



45 



reaches from the base to the middle : the head is much 

 elongated, and the eyes are placed, apparently, far 

 back : in the middle of the upper eyelid is a white 

 spot ; and from the hinder part of the eye springs a 

 slender tuft of white feathers, which hangs loosely 

 on the neck : the upper parts of the plumage, the 

 head, and neck are black ; and the under parts, from 

 the breast, white : the thighs dusky : the legs dirty 

 yellow : webs brown. 



This species is found in flocks, in Kamtschatka, in 

 the isles towards Japan, and on the western shores of 

 America. Like the rest of the tribe, they are in- 

 dolent and stupid birds, as the following ridiculous 

 method of catching them sufficiently proves ; — One 

 of the natives places himself in the evening among 

 the rocks, under a loose garment of fur, of a par- 

 ticular shape, with large open sleeves, when the birds, 

 returning to their lodging places at dusk, run under 

 the skirts and up the arm-holes, in order to shelter 

 themselves during the night : the man concealed be- 

 neath kills them as fast as they enter, and by this 

 means, as many are often taken in an evening as he 

 can carry away. Their stupidity occasions them like- 

 wise very often to fly on board a ship of an evening, 

 mistaking it for a roosting place. 



They lay an egg of a dirty white or yellowish- 

 colour, spotted with brown, about the middle of June, 

 upon the bare rock or sand, and it is said to be very 

 excellent eating. 



