234 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



moistened with water, the former thrown in among the dirt and 

 the latter not unfrequently sour. If, then, they survive the 

 trying journey from the colony of Blumenau to Eio Janeiro, and 

 afterwards the passage to Hamburg or London, they may surely 

 be included among the hardiest species ; and this is, indeed, 

 true, for they have, in several instances, been kept in unheated 

 rooms throughout the winter. 



Although the All-green Parrakeet in its native country is 

 highly esteemed and often taught to speak there, and though it 

 is so hardy that it has lived in zoological gardens for ten years 

 or more, yet it does not enjoy any great popularity here. This 

 is due to the fact that it is a bad screamer at times and that it 

 has not as yet proved itself a suitable subject for breeding. I 

 am convinced, however, that it would be advantageous if 

 attempts at breeding it were made — and they would undoubtedly 

 succeed — the young birds tamed, and then taught to speak. As 

 their training advanced they would certainly cease from their 

 disagreeable cry, and thus this comparatively worthless species 

 might become a very valuable one. 



CHAP. XCIX.— THE OANAEY-WINGED PARRAKEET. 



Psittacus xanthdpterus, Spx. 



Oranfie-winged Parrakeet (Ger., Schmalschnahelsittich mit hocJi- 

 fjelber Flilgelhinde, Gelhfliigelsittich, Golhflilgelsittich, Kanarien- 

 vogelsittich, Kanarienflugelsittich, gelhflugeliger^ Grassittich ; 

 Fr., Perruche xanthoptere ; Dut., Oranjevlevgel Parkiet) — 

 Description — Hahitat — Character in Captivity. 



Described and named by Spix in 1824, this species belongs to 

 those known only in later times. It is grass-green all over the 

 body ; above darker, beneath somewhat lighter ; quills bluish 

 on the outer web, blackish-grey on the inner web ; all on 

 the reverse side bluish-green ; the bend of the wing and the 

 large upper coverts deep yellow (forming a broad yellow band 

 across the wing) ; tail feathers olive greenish-yellow on the inner 

 web, on the reverse side both webs are bluish-green ; the beak a 

 light brownish grey-white ; eyes dark brown ; feet brownish horn- 

 grey ; nearly as large as a thrush (length, 9f in. ; wings, 4|in. to 

 4Jin. ; tail, 3fin. to 4in.). 



