THE SMALL-BILLED PARRAKEETS. 235 



It is a native of, probably, the whole extent of Brazil, and is 

 said to be particularly numerous in the region round the Amazon 

 and in Bolivia ; Bartlett found it also in Peru. Of its life in 

 freedom we only know that for the most part it is like that of 

 its kindred species. Burmeister saw small flights of them every 

 day in the neighbourhood of New Freiburg. 



In its native country this Small-billed Parrakeet is frequently 

 kept as a pet, and in captivity displays the droll character which 

 I described in speaking of the preceding species, but it is easily 

 distinguishable from them by its marked gentleness. The 

 following account is by an eminent connoisseur and affectionate 

 admirer of foreign cage-birds — Dr. Luchs, a physician, of Warm- 

 brunn : "My Canary-winged Parrakeet is an uncommonly tame, 

 gentle, and affectionate bird. It grows daily more confident 

 and familiar with me, though with strangers it is always shy. 

 When I prepare to sit down to breakfast it begins to make a 

 climbing journey from its open cage, up the window curtain 

 beside it, across two birdcages, and down the curtain on the 

 other side on to the adjacent sofa, thence up again by the table- 

 cloth, and at last to the farther side of me, to feast on milk, 

 moistened toast, sugar, and the like. If I do not at once take 

 notice of it, it at first softly pecks my hand, but then more 

 sharply, looking up at me from time to time to see if I will not 

 give it the coveted food. As soon as it is satisfied it returns by 

 the same route with all its difficulties. I could relate much of 

 the droll caresses of my friendly parrakeet, but in doing so I 

 should illustrate no intellectual gifts with which these parrots 

 may in particular be endowed, but merely that which has already 

 been observed in a higher degree in many other species. This 

 variety, however, I have no hesitation in asserting, by no means 

 belongs to the untalented and lower ranks. My little Canary- 

 winged Parrakeet was able to say quite distinctly, ' There, there, 

 Polly !' Its cry was by no means annoying or disagreeable, and 

 was not often heard. Every time that I went into the room it 

 greeted me with a call, also when I addressed it as 'Polly.' 

 If it had settled to rest for the night and I went up and spoke 

 to it, it would answer me, at first in a whisper, and then with a 

 repeated cry." This species has not yet been bred with success. 



Their price stands usually high, although they are by no 

 means beautiful, and have a very plain plumage. 



