GREY PARROT. 
53 
Papagaio, and discovered several holes, many of which probably con- 
tained nests, but we were not able to climb up to see, the trunks 
being so smooth and thick. 
“We set out on our return for my plantation at noon, and arrived 
there safely at 4 p.rn. Although my excursion had furnished me with 
the small result of six living Parrots, three dead ones, and one egg, 
yet the exertion this had entailed brought on a severe fever, which 
developed itself as soon as I got home and confined me to my house 
for several days. 
“While on the Pico I availed myself of such a favourable opportunity, 
and took particular notice of the habits of this bird. The first thing 
I observed was that it is always found in flocks, which flocks go 
about over the island during the day, returning to their own appointed 
place on the mountain in the evening to roost. Their food consists 
of fruits, such as the palm nut, the avocat ( Laurus perse(i), the banana 
( Musa paradisea ) , goyave, mango, and many other fruits of a smaller 
kind, but they always give the preference to palm nuts. 
“They drink but little, and as no water is found on the Pico they 
must obtain what they require during the day on the lowland. They 
make no nest, but deposit their eggs (which are from two to four in 
number) on the bottom of the hole. The eggs are in size, shape, and 
colour similar to those of the Wood Pigeon [Golumba palumbus): when 
unblown they are of a pinkish hue, which may be owing to the thin- 
ness of the shell. Both birds take it by turns to sit, and while one 
is sitting the other often comes and feeds it out of its crop. The 
young ones are fed in the same way. In time of danger the old biids 
defend their progeny vigorously, and should the enemy prove too 
strong to be successfully resisted by one pair, other Parrots come up 
to their assistance, and joining forces either kill or put the aggressor 
to flight. 
“The Grey Parrot delights to dwell in companies: many nests are 
found within a few feot of each other, and often in one tree two or 
more holes may be seen occupied by hatching pairs. 
“The young birds are covered with a long and fluffy down, which 
afterwards, when moulting, falls off. Their first plumage is darker, 
and the iris dai’k grey, instead of pale yellow. They leave the nest 
when about four weeks old, but may be seen looking outside the hole 
some time before they are able to fly. They grow quickly, and the 
feathers get gradually paler; when two months old the first moulting 
begins, which lasts about five weeks, after which the plumage is similar 
to "that of the old birds, although the edges of the feathers are not 
so pale and the cheeks and forehead not so white as in old individuals. 
