THE AMAZON PARROTS. 101 



■and top and sides of the head ; the red marks are pale and 

 'dull. Size, nearly as large as a raven (length, 15in. to l74^in. ; 

 wings, 8;lin. to 9in. ; tail, 4|in. to 52in.). It is only found in 

 the South and West of Mexico, its native country, and on the 

 •adjacent islands ; it is seen further north than any other 

 Amazon parrot. 



It is much valued as a cage bird in its native land as well as 

 with us, consequently it fetches a higher price than any of its 

 fellows. The Indians steal the young from the nests, therefore 

 all birds of this species come into the market at least half tame, 

 and able to speak a few words ; but they come singly or in 

 -small numbers. Immediately after their arrival they are 

 -delicate, and need much care (see "Acclimatisation" and 

 *' Management "), but when accustomed to the change they 

 are among the most hardy of the parrot tribe. 



One great advantage which Levaillant's Amazon possesses is 

 its power of apprehension, by which it is always able to repeat 

 ■clearly at once words that are taught it. On the other hand, 

 there are amongst the ranks of this species some which will 

 ne^er learn anything; yet the statement of the experiences 

 given on page 36 should always be borne in mind, and such 

 a bird should not be given up too soon as incapable of improve- 

 ment, because, as has happened in many cases, it may be that 

 after many years it will become an excellent speaker. I must 

 ■add that even the most excellent of these birds will, from time 

 to time, give vent to its wild natural cry. 



<3HAP. XVIII.— THE YELLOW-FEONTED AMAZON. 



Psittacus ochrocephalus, Gml. 



Yellow -fronted Amazon (Ger., Siirinam-Amazone unci Surinam- 

 papagei, Gelbscheiteliger Kurzjlugelpapagei iind Gelhscheitel- 

 Amazone ; Fr., Perroquet Amazone a front jaune, Perroquet 

 de Cayenne; Dut., Geelvoorlioofd Papegaai, Geelvleeh Papegaai) 

 — Physical Characteri'stics — Varieties — Habitat — Rank as 

 Talker. 



All parrots included under the common na.me of Amazon show 

 in colouring and special marks such noticeable characters, that 

 ^ven a superficial observer could not be confused in determining 



