l62 



funniest of little ways. She is gentle as to temper ; but can 

 bite smartly if frightened or jealous, and to hear her call for her 

 toast when the maid brings in my breakfast in the morning is 

 something to remember. However, she does not scream very 

 often and is for the most part a quiet and lovable creature. 



I do not know why I say " she," for I am not sure of the 

 sex, except that there is something " hennish" both in the ap- 

 pearance and in the dainty wilful ways of the bird. This parrot 

 never perches on my finger or wrist as my other birds do ; but 

 always squats in my hands, in this way we go about the house 

 or for a walk on the balcony to take the air. 



I trust these few homely remarks may be of interest to 

 those of our members who keep pet parrots and that someone 

 with an abler pen than mine will give some particulars of the 

 wild life, etc., of this beautiful bird. 



Note : I have not found the Pionus family either dull or 

 stupid as some authorities would have us believe. I have now 

 two of this species, the other being P. mens t runs and both are 

 absolutely tame and most intelligent. 



By W. T. Page. 



I quite agree with Mrs. Miller that to call this bird dusky 

 is most certainly a great misnomer, as will be seen from Mr. 

 Goodchild's characteristic drawing, which is true to life and I 

 consider one of his best efforts. It is a beautiful bird in every 

 sense of the word, a bird with a refined sort of beauty that is 

 difficult to describe. There are many very beautiful birds, 

 the gorgeousness of whose beauty seems to literally strike you 

 whenever you gaze upon them. It is not so with violaceus : its 

 beauty is quiet, chaste, refined. 



The Dusky or Violet Parrot is a native of Brazil ; a very 

 rare bird in this country, only odd specimens coming to hand at 

 fairly long intervals. But little appears to be known of its wild 

 life. A minute description would occupy too much space, and 

 with the plate before us such is scarcely needed — it must suffice to 

 say that the general body colouring is an arrangment of blue- and 

 violet-greys of varying shades, the feathers of the under surface 

 having rosy margins and those of the sides of the neck whitish 



