File:The royal natural history (1893) (14782449174).jpg

Identifier: royalnaturalhist47lyde (find matches)
Title: The royal natural history
Year: 1893 (1890s)
Authors: Lydekker, Richard, 1849-1915 Sclater, Philip Lutley, 1829-1913 Frostick, W. B., former owner. DSI Brooks, W. T., former owner. DSI
Subjects: Zoology Natural history
Publisher: London and New York : Frederick Warne & Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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on iri^Y parrot (PsittacusGrey Parrot. . fev^i \ eritkacus)—the type of the whole order-—scarcely requires descrip-tion, us its appearance is familiar to all. It may be mentioned, however, that it ischaracterised by the squared tail being less than half the length of the wing; by 124 PARROTS. the rather compressed and lengthened bill, and by the papillas covering the nakedportions of the face. The general colour of the plumage is ashy, with a brightred tail. The range of this species extends from the Congo and Guinea coastacross Equatorial Africa to the east of Lake Nyasa. In Liberia and lower SierraLeone it is replaced by F. timneh, distinguished by its dark grey plumage, andthe dark red of the tail. The best account extant of the liabits of the greyparrot in its wild state is one by Mr. J. G. Keulemans, who had an opportunity ofstudying these birds during a long residence on Princes Island, where theyespecially frequent a hill, known as the Pico do Papagaio. Mr. Keulemans writes
Text Appearing After Image:
THE GREY PARROT (; nat. size) that these parrots are always found in flocks which go about the island duringthe day, returning to their own appointed place on the mountain in the evening toroost. Their food consists of fruits, such as the palm-nut, the avocat, the banana,goyave, mango, and many other fruits of a smaller kind, but they always givethe preference to the palm-nuts. Tliey drink but little, and as no water is foundon 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 numbei-)on the bottom of the hole. The eggs are in size, sliape, and colour similar to thoseof the wood-pigeon ; when unblown they are of a pinkish hue, which may be owingto the thinness of the shell. Botli birds take it by turns to sit, and while one issitting the other often comes and feeds it out of its crop. The young ones are fed PARRAQUETS. 125 in the isame way. In time of dano-er the old birds defend their pr

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