It is strange that for a bird which has so long been one of the chief pets in Europe, so little is known of its habits in a wild state, and at the present time not a single authentic egg of this species, taken in its native haunts, is known to exist. Occasionally it lays in confinement a white egg, like other Picarian birds, but it is probably from the care with which the species selects its breeding-place that it has been so difficult to find their nest and eggs. The only naturalist who appears to have discovered the latter appears to be the celebrated natural history artist, Mr. Keulemans, who spent nearly two years in West Africa, and has written the best account of the Grey Parrot in a state of nature,[242] as observed by him on Ilha do Principe, or Prince’s Island, in the Bight of Biafra. Here it is very common, and breeds in the month of December in the very thickest forests. Only one pair breed in each tree, laying five eggs in a hole thereof, but a large number nest in close proximity to each other, many hundreds breeding in the same area, according to the above-named author. Both parents take a share in the rearing of the young birds, sitting by turns, the one who is thus relieved bringing food to its mate and feeding it out of its crop, which method is also adopted in the care of the young birds. The food of the Grey Parrot is stated to consist of palm-nuts, the arocat (Laurus persea), the banana (Musa paradisea), goyare, mango, and many other fruits of a smaller size; but it always gives the preference to palm-nuts. On Prince’s Island, writes Mr. Keulemans, there is “a very lofty mountain, reaching some 1,200 feet above the level of the sea, and called by the natives ‘Pico de Papagaio,’ or Peak of the Parrots. 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 lianas and other climbing plants, which hang about them in luxurious folds. The density of the forest is so great that it is only with the greatest difficulty and toil that the explorer can force his way 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.”
Another observer in West Africa, Dr. Reichenow, found the Grey Parrot breeding in West Africa in the low-lands along the streams and groves of mangrove, and the great difficulty of traversing these swamps is, according to him, the reason why their breeding habits are not better known. They are very destructive to the crops of Indian corn, which they visit in large flocks, wasting as much as they consume. They proceed to roost in flocks, selecting the same route each night; and Governor Ussher says that, whilst up the river Addo, near Lagos, he has seen them crossing at sunset from their feeding-grounds to their roosting-places, when they presented the appearance of one continuous flock passing at a great distance overhead, their screams and chattering being heard long after darkness has set in. They are said by some travellers to be very good eating, but by others to be only good for soup.
GREAT MACAWS.
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LARGER IMAGE
The Grey Parrot in his native haunts is an unsociable bird, and a curious story is told by Dr. Dohrn, and confirmed by Mr. Keulemans, respecting the species in Prince’s Island. As has already been stated, the Parrots are extremely common there, but not a single Kite is met with on the island. On the neighbouring island of St. Thomas there is an abundance of Black Kites but not a single Parrot, between whom and the Kites a constant warfare is waged, so that, should one of the latter get driven over to Prince’s Island he is almost immediately set upon by the Parrots and slaughtered; and the compliment is returned if a Parrot is so unfortunate as to land uninvited on St. Thomas’s. On the coast the chief enemy of the Parrots is the Vulturine Sea-Eagle (Gypohierax angolensis).
GREY PARROT.
The colouring of the Grey Parrot is simple, being of a clear bluish-grey, with a red tail. About the face the skin is white, and covered with a soft, velvety feathering, amongst which there is a plentiful supply of white powder, as any one knows who scratches the head of “Polly.” This powder is present in most of the family, but not to the same degree as in the grey species. The young bird in the nest is stated to have the tail dark-grey instead of red, and it is more of a brownish-grey colour, not so clear as in the old bird, while the iris is grey instead of yellow.
The CONURES (Conurinæ) are the third sub-family of Parrots, and are represented largely in America, only one genus, Palæornis, being found in India and Africa. They have the head devoid of a crest, with a very long graduated tail, and short and weak tarsi. Amongst the best-known species of this sub-family may be mentioned the Great Macaw.