134 
LB VAILL ant’s PIONUS. 
as latitude 32 3 It was first discovered and figured 
by Le Vaillant, who informs us, that it only resides 
in the woods, in the latitude above mentioned, du- 
ring the season of reproduction, quitting them for 
warmer districts on the approach of the rainy season, 
after it has reared its young ; and that, during these 
migratory movements, the flocks fly so high as to be 
beyond the reach of sight, though their screams or 
call-notes can still be heard. As usual in this family, 
the hollow of a tree is the receptacle for the eggs, 
which are four in number, in size equal to those of 
a pigeon, and which are incubated alternately by 
both sexes. The young, when first hatched, are 
naked, but soon become covered with greyish down. 
Their plumage is not perfected till after an interval 
of six weeks, and they remain a considerable time 
longer in the nest, during which they are fed by the 
parents, who disgorge in the manner of pigeons. In 
an interesting detail of their habits, he observes that 
they are remarkably fond of bathing, and are ob- 
served to fly every day, and at the same hour, to the 
water for this purpose. The hours of feeding are 
also very regular, and the whole day is distributed 
by rule — a fact we have observed to prevail among 
other birds. At dawn of day, the whole flight of 
each district assembles, and alights with much noise 
on one or more dead trees, according to the size of 
the flock, and there, displaying their wings to the 
first rays of the sun, recal to mind the idea of some 
ancient race, of simple manners, assembled on some 
