232 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



Observation has taught us that in captivity they are by no 

 means so delicate as described, but can stand our climate well ; 

 they all become tame, but it is not yet known if they are all 

 gifted with a talent for speech to the extent which Professor 

 Hallbauer claims. A couple which belonged to his brother, a 

 surgeon in the navy, and had been brought from the West Indies, 

 learnt to speak. After a delay of about a year, when they had 

 acquired fresh plumage of a beautiful character, they began to 

 imitate an Amazon which was near their cage, or rather one of 

 the couple did so, probably the male bird. '' Setting out by 

 softly uttering 'Kickerick,' it by degrees pronounced the phrase 

 completely as 'Kickericki.' Soon it learnt also the word 

 *papa;' both words sounded very odd as pronounced in its 

 tiny voice. It is worth noticing that when the little speaker 

 said the word ' Kickericki,' it hopped about on its perch 

 and clapped its wings, which heightened the comical impres- 

 sion." Travellers have from time to time declared that the Tovi 

 Parrakeet, in its native country, is far from rare as a talker. 

 "We may expect, therefore, that this capability will develop 

 itself more frequently among us in future, if the fanciers will 

 but take the trouble to teach these birds, especially the young 

 ones. 



Both Mrs. Veronika Greiner and Mr. Schmalz (ministerial 

 secretary), amateur bird fanciers and residents of Vienna, have 

 had the good fortune to obtain successful results in the breeding 

 of the Tovi Parrakeet. These birds, however, are not often to 

 be found in aviaries, for their ear-piercing cries render them 

 obnoxious. 



CHAP. XCVIIL— THE ALL-GREEN PAEEAKEET. 



Psittacua tirica, Gml. 



All-green ParraJceet (Ger., Bhimenausittich, Tirilcasittich, hlos 

 TiiHJca, hlos Grassittich, hlcmfiiigelifjer Sclimalschnahelsittich ; 

 Fr., Perruche tirica; Dut., Tirica Parkiet) — Descrijjtion — 

 Habitat — Importation — Character in Confinement. 



The All-green Parrakeet was described by Brisson as early as 

 1760, and was named by Gmelin in 1788. No mention was 

 made of it before this time. It is of a light grass-green on 

 the forehead, all the rest of the upper part of the body dark 



