THE AMAZON PARROTS. \m 



wings, 7^in. to 8in.; tail, 3|in. to 3;|in. It is a native of Brazil, 

 Bolivia, Guiana, and Venezuela. It is somewhat rare in the 

 market, and this may be the reason why, even as an untrained 

 bird, it fetches rather a high price. 



CHAP. XXIV.— SALLE'S AMAZON. 



Psittacna Sallei, Scl. 



Salle's Amazon (Ger., St. Domingo- Amazone, weissstirnige Porfo- 

 riho - Amazone, Blaukrone, Salle's Kurzflilgelpapagei; Fr., 

 Perroquet Amazone de St. Domingo ; Dut., Salle's Amazone 

 Papegaai) — Descrip)tion. 



In this species we introduce a group of smaller Amazons which 

 are usually called collectively by the dealers " Porto Eico 

 Parrots." As mentioned on page 97, they are far behind 

 the great speakers previously treated of, both in the talent for 

 speech and in general cleverness ; on the other hand, they are 

 always very trustworthy and gentle ; but they must certainly be^ 

 accounted dreadful screamers. Salle's Amazon Parrot has a 

 white forehead and lores ; front and crown of the head dull 

 blue ; cheeks green, near the ear black ; upper coverts of the 

 tail yellow-green ; coverts of the primaries and bend of wing 

 blue ; outer feathers of the tail, at the basal half, scarlet^ 

 which colour decreases on the inside ; all the upper part of the 

 body dark grass-green ; each feather edged with black ; lower 

 part lighter grass-green ; the hinder part of the body with a round, 

 dull scarlet spot ; near the leg bluish-green ; beak yellowish horn- 

 grey ; cere whitish-grey ; eyes dark-brown, inclining to red- 

 brown ; eye cere almost pure white ; feet whitish-grey ; claws 

 horn-grey. Special indications : The want of the red line Ott 

 the forehead, the eyebrow, and the central spot in wing ; the 

 forehead is sometimes yellowish-white. About the size of a 

 jackdaw (length, 12|in. to 13in. ; wings, 6|in. to 7iin. ; tail, 

 3|-in. to 4in.). It is a native of the Island of St. Domingo. 



This pretty little parrot was described by Brisson as early as 

 the year 1760, and was, therefore, known to the older writers ; 

 but it was thought to be the female of the White-fronted 

 Amazon Parrot. Dr. Sclater, in 1857, was the first to determine 



