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powered appearance ; Dufresue's Amazon {C. dufres7ieana 

 which is distinguished ])y the orange forehead and blue 

 cheeks; the Yellow-naped [C. atiropalUata) ; the Cuba 

 Parrot (C hticocephala) one of the smaller species, with a 

 white forehead and crown, and with cheeks and throat 

 of ros}' pink ; and the Jamaica Parrot [C. collaria) which 

 has a white forehead, blue cheeks, and reddish throat. 

 A noticeable point in connection with tlie Common 

 Bhie-fronted Amazon is its tendency to albinism : indi- 

 viduals vary very much in the extent of the yellow about 

 the head, and it is quite common to see specimens more 

 or less marked with patches of pale yellow, while 

 occasionally a completely yellow bird is met with. 



The PiONUS Parrots. — Less attractive than the 

 Amazon Parrots are their near relatives the Pionus 

 Parrots, which are also inhabitants of Central and South 

 America. They are but seldom imported, and with the 

 exception of the Hawk-headed Parrot, are not, as a rule, 

 sufficiently attractive to induce the amateur to pay the 

 high prices usually asked for them. Those which are 

 imported are the Hawk-headed Parrot {P. accipitrinus), 

 the Blue-headed [P. menstnius), the Dusky {P. fuscus), 

 and Maximilian's Parrot {P. maximiliani). The Hawk- 

 headed Parrot is described, by those who have been 

 fortunate enough to possess specimens, as a most 

 intelligent and interesting bird, and a good talker. It is 

 a curious looking bird, and has the power of erecting 

 the feathers of the neck when excited, so as to form a 

 sort of frill or ruff, which gives it a ver}- formidable 

 appearance. The head of this species is greyish brown, 

 much lighter in some specimens than in others, but 

 whether this difference is due to age or sex I am unable 

 to say. The back and wings are green, and the feathers 

 of the nape, breast, and abdomen deep red, each feather 

 being edged with blue. It is as large as the Grey Parrot. 

 The remaining species are tame and quiet, wanting in 

 intelligence, and very seldom learn to speak. They are 

 somewhat less hardy than the Amazon Parrots, and 

 require the same food and treatment as the latter. 



