THE NOBLE PARRAKEETS. 207 



accounted as the true Linne's Parrakeet, and most certainly is 

 not the parrakeet which has been known in Europe from the 

 time of Alexander and Caesar ; for this, as I remarked on 

 page 200, was the bird now called the Ring-necked Alexandrine 

 Parrakeet. 



As this parrakeet, like all those previously described, is kept 

 as a cage bird in its native country, and said to be a highly 

 prized favourite, it is astonishing that it should be so rarely 

 imported alive. Bechstein described it as " the most charming, 

 teachable and talkative of parrots, and unusually tame, gentle 

 and affectionate in its ways." Some years ago I had a Javan 

 Alexandrine Parrakeet, but derived little pleasure from it, for it 

 neither became tame nor proved itself teachable. Schlechtendal 

 experienced the same thing; yet a second parrakeet of this 

 species which he had proved very talented, learning to say 

 things without any special teaching, and being exceedingly tame. 

 The Baroness S. von Schlechta, of Vienna, seems to be the 

 greatest admirer of the Javan Alexandrine Parrakeet. She has 

 had five specimens, and speaks of them all as being exceedingly 

 affectionate. Of one hen she says : " Not a note is disagreeable, 

 or even harsh ; every one is clear and bright. It does not 

 display towards me the least trace of viciousness or ill-temper, 

 but allows itself to be caressed and fed from the mouth. It 

 laid at short intervals as many as forty-two eggs, which were 

 all, however, soft-shelled, and either eaten or destroyed by the 

 bird itself. The other Javan Parrakeets also show great affec- 

 tion for me, and are charmingly droll and intelligent. One of 

 these birds says, with a clear voice, * Papagei !' then ' Anna. 

 Papagei!' ' gei, gei !' and * ei, ei !' and then laughs loudly and 

 clearly, so that I am obliged to join in its merriment. The 

 male bird sings a clear short song, and nods its head right 

 and left. Their tricks are very comical ; they make low 

 bows, &c." 



"We thus find in this species, when treated properly and affec- 

 tionately, a charming and interesting cage bird ; its talent for 

 speech is, however, small in comparison with that developed by 

 the species previously described. 



