200 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



cannot be quieted by any means ; moreover, they are incorrigibly 

 destructive to wood, completely wrecking every part of the cage 

 or stand which is not of metal ; and they bully other birds most 

 inexcusably. If handled carelessly, again, they may prove very 

 vicious biters, and no bird becomes more obstinate, wicked, 

 and spiteful than an Alexandrine Parrakeet, if treated igno- 

 rantly or improperly. 



Some of the varieties described belong to the more common 

 species in the trade ; others, on the contrary, are very rare. As 

 birds are frequently imported which are not perfectly coloured, 

 and as the amateur may purchase one which has been bred in 

 this country, I may remark that all these parrakeets get their 

 fully coloured plumage very late, seldom before they are two 

 years old. 



CHAP. LXXXL— THE RING-NEOKED ALEXANDRINE 

 PARRAKEET. 



Psittacus torquatus, Bdd. 



Ring-neched Parrakeet, Rose-ringed Parrakeet (Ger., Halshand- 

 Edelsittichf Kleiner Alexandersittich, Alexanderpapagei, Hals- 

 handsittich ; Fr., Per ruche d collier rose, Perruche Alexandre 

 a collier de V hide, Perruche Alexandre a collier da Senegal; 

 Dut., Kleene Alexanderparkiet of Halshand Edelparkiet) — 

 Familiar to the Ancients — Its Beautu — Talent for Speech — 

 Description — Habitat — Selection in Purchase. 



Wherever in ancient literature a parrot may be spoken of, 

 this is always the species meant. Writers, from Pliny down 

 to Aldrovandi and Gessner, give descriptions and drawings 

 of it. Many errors concerning it have, however, crept in. 

 It was said, among other things, to be a native of America, 

 and was described as consisting of many varieties. We have 

 records of its importation to Europe in the time of Alexander 

 the Great. Buffon, Bechstein, and others, have written of its 

 habits in captivity. 



Thus, from ancient times even to our own day, it has been 

 admired and esteemed, not only for its capacity for speech, but 

 also for its beauty. More recently, as a cage bird, we have dis- 

 covered a special attraction in it, namely, its capacity for 



