Some Colony Birds. 227 



black but the secondaries are a uniform cobalt green. The 

 cheeks and throat are marked with bhie, the beak horn-yellow. 

 I have not yet made its personal acquaintance. I am told that 

 it speaks distinctly and in a loud voice. 



The Saurama. The Saurama Parrot is the largest of 

 the Amazons. It is a rather gaunt bird, measuring from 

 sixteen to seventeen inches in total length. It is not in such 

 request, as the vScreecher, being slow, not to say dull and un- 

 interesting. It may be taught to speak a few words and this 

 it doe; distinctly, but the process requires time and patience. 



It may easily be distinguished from the rest of the 

 group by the broad circle of bare, white, skin around the 

 eye, which, hnw:"vcr, is not so expensive as that of the African 

 Grey. The uniform green of the body is relieved by the line 

 of purplc-and-crimson of the wings and a yellow patch of 

 indefinite and variable hrhape on the crown of the head. The 

 v.'iii^; r athers are the same as the Screecher except that the 

 mi 'dl'' outer, webs of the secondaries are a beautiful crimson 

 insteaii oi orange. The tail feathers, which are somewhat 

 longer in proportio.i than those of other Amazons, are green, 

 fading into a light colour, and the outer feathers have some- 

 times an edging of light blue. I'he beak is horn-yellow, 

 c'ark or. the inargins; tlie outer rim of the iris is red. The 

 feathers of the nape and upper back have often a bluish tinge. 

 There are some light crimson feathers on the bastard wins;. 

 I do not know why this .Ainazon shtnikl be called farinosa, 

 that is mealy, except perhaps that it has, more than the others, 

 a tendency to become spotted with yellow. The alternate 

 generic name of Chrysotis. "golden," may reveaf the same 

 proclivity in the family generally. The species, acst.va, not 

 found in thii^ Colony, is sometimes seen in its wild state 

 entirely yellow. ()r it may be tha; in this species the powder- 

 down patches are more in evidence. 



The Amazon of Amazons. The King of all the Ama- 

 zons is undoubied'.y that epecies {A/n':z!ni oclirocepliala) which 

 is the only one of the genus known in ICngland by the name 

 of Amazon outside scientific circles. It is the Amazon par 

 excellence. 



Hardly inferior in size to the Saurama, it is handsomer 



