THE NOBLE PARRAKEETS. 197 



possession are unsurpassed in tameness and affection, and that 

 the male might compete with the best Grey Parrot in talent for 

 speech. " It sings, laughs, knocks, and when I call, * Come in!' 

 asks, * Where is the mistress ? ' &c. In all, it has learnt about 

 fifty words, and it is astonishing how correctly it can apply them. 

 It plays with an Amazon Parrot after the manner of two puppies 

 tumbling each other about." This couple was in the possession 

 of Mrs. von Proschek for years, and made several attempts at 

 breeding, but unfortunately always without success. 



CHAP. LXXX.— THE PAL^ORNITHIN^, OR NOBLE 

 PARRAKEETS. 



Palseornis, Vgrs. 



Distinguished for Form and Colour, for Talent in Speech, and 

 for Breeding in Captivity — Description — Habitat — Varieties 

 — Hardiness. 



The Palseornithinse, or, as they are called in Germany, the Noble 

 Parrakeets, have become in several respects of great value to the 

 amateur ; indeed, they have been admired and highly esteemed 

 from the most ancient times, on account of their special pecu- 

 liarities. Their superiority lies in their pleasing form and 

 beautiful colours, as well as in their eminent talent for speech, 

 and intelligence in general ; and, at the same time, in their 

 unusually great aptitude for being tamed and trained ; and to 

 these qualities may be added the advantage that many species 

 of the genus breed more freely in the aviary than any others. 



While the Macaws, which belong also to the Long-tailed 

 Parrots already described, cannot be classed exactly among true 

 cage birds, the Palseornithinse form, in the group of parrakeets 

 proper — of which we are about to treat — the most prominent 

 and, strictly speaking, the only family among whose members 

 we meet with very talented talkers. They may, therefore, pro- 

 perly take precedence of the other species of parrakeets, which, 

 indeed, are far behind them in this respect. 



The following may be regarded as their chief distinguishing 

 marks : The beak powerful, as long as, or longer than, it is deep ; 

 the basal half of the upper mandible set angularly, with a 



