THE AMAZON PARROTS. 107 



CHAP. XXII.— THE GUATEMALAN AMAZON. 



Psittacus guatemalensis, Hrtl. 



Guatemala Amazon (Ger., Guatemala- Amazojie, Blausclieitel- 

 Amazonenpapagei, Blauscheitelig er Kurzflilgelp)apagei ; Fr., 

 Perroquet Amazone cie Guatemale ; Dut., Guatemala Amazone 

 Papegaai) — Characteristics. 



Among a number of freshly-imported Amazon Parrots one 

 usually sees several different species which come from the same 

 or neighbouring districts, and are brought by the buyers at the 

 same time to the ships ; hence it is that the Guatemalan comes 

 with the Mealy Amazon, yet it is much rarer. It is azure-blue 

 on the forehead to the top of the head ; the sides of the head 

 are a lively green ; the neck and shoulders greenish-grey ; 

 central spot in the wing scarlet ; no red in the edge of the 

 wing; the tail feathers altogether without red; all the upper 

 part of the body dark grass-green ; lower part somewhat lighter ; 

 the hinder parts and the lower covert of the tail yellow-green ; 

 beak blackish ; on the upper beak a pinkish spot ; cere bluish- 

 grey ; eyes carmine, with a broad brown circle round the iris ; 

 eye cere bluish-white ; feet whitish-grey ; claws black. The 

 female has green on the forehead, each feather just edged with 

 blue ; the top of the head and the neck more of a purplish- 

 blue ; cheeks, sides of the head, and throat, grass-green ; the 

 beak lighter, blackish horn-grey, with a whitish spot, at the root 

 of the lower beak ; the red ring in the iris is much narrower. 

 Special indications : The blue on the top of the head ; no red 

 in the edge of the wing or the tail ; down among the feathers 

 of the back. Eather larger than a raven (length, 18|in. to 

 19in. ; wings, 8^-in. to 9in. ; tail, 4iin. to 4|in.). It is said by 

 travellers to be a native of Mexico, particularly of the south. 

 On the whole the Guatemalan greatly resembles the Mealy 

 Amazon. Like the others, it is easily tamed, and learns to 

 speak well ; but is occasionally an unbearable screamer. 



