173 



this way, but caged separately and carefully taught, make 

 capital talkers ; the latter especially. One vStarling that 

 I used to have, equalled any Parrot, and piped a tune 

 more beautifully than any expensively trained Bullfinch 

 I ever heard. Poor Jacob! like many another famous 

 pet, he has long since gone the way of all things mortal, 

 but in fancy I can still hear his sweet voice saying, 

 " Kiss pretty Jacob," " Coach and six for Jacob," " Give 

 us a kiss," " Come on." Who could resist the charms of 

 such a delightful pet ? 



In conclusion, what I have written is the result of 

 30 years practical experience with nearly every species 

 of British cage-bird, which I have myself kept, from 

 Fire-crested Wrens to Choughs, the smallest and largest, 

 and if the results of my experience help to prolong and 

 make the lives of our little feathered cage-pets happier, 

 and bring only one more recruit to sw^ell the ranks of 

 those who, like myself, know that to understand is to 

 appreciate this most delightful hobby of mankind, I 

 shall be amply repaid for my trouble. 



PARROTS AND PARRAKEETS. 



By Dr. C. vS. Simpson. 



(Continued from page 130J . 



GuiLDiNG'vS Amazon {C. guildingi) is a magnificent 

 bird which is rarely seen in this country. The genernl 

 colour of this bird is orange brown, the pileum, lores, 

 and feathers under the eye white, the occiput, sides 

 of head and throat blue. It is the oul}^ one found in 

 the Island of St. Vincent. Another species which is 

 decidedly rare is the small White-browed Amazon {C. 

 albifrons). In this bird a narrow band above the beak 

 and a ring round the eye are scarlet, the forehead is 

 white, and the crown blue. 



Other species which are occasionally to be obtained 

 are the Mealy Amazon {C. farinosa) which almost equals 

 Guilding's in size, and is uniformly green with a mealy or 



