Allen Silver—Lesson s Amazon



31



C. autumnalis, and C. viridigena in parts. Reference proved it to be

C. lilacina —a small Ecuador Amazon, probably not 13 inches long

when skinned and stretched unnaturally, but much less when

perched. It is one of the smallest species, and in body plumage

much resembles the Yellow-cheeked Amazon. Its cheeks, however,

are different in colour to the Green-cheeked or Salvin’s species, and,

of course, lack the facial markings of autumnalis. The bill in this

bird is black, the bare eye-ring broad, white, and pronounced. The

irides are wine-red, not yellowish, and give the bird a pleasing

expression.


The frontal feathers of the head and the lores as far as the gape

(continuing as a streak above and beyond the eye) are crimson.

The centre of the crown is dull lavender, with reddish tips to the

feathers, but this ornamentation, does not extend to the back of the

crown or the nape. Like the Yellow-cheeked Amazon, it has a red

wing speculum and no red rump.


This bird, I believe, has been referred to as viridigenalis ? and

coccineofrons, but I think the same terms have been applied to

viridigena, the true Green-cheeked Amazon. I find it a good mimic

and whistler, and it speaks a little. In disposition it is as playful as

a Lorikeet, a great climber, and very active. It was once the pet of

a West Indian coloured seaman, and arrived in very rough plumage,

which, however, is speedily changing. I see no reason why this species

should not (when well-trained and taken young) make a good speaker,

and if so it would be more attractive than some of the larger kinds.

As I have no recollection of seeing it before mentioned aviculturally

I thought it advisable to make mention of the bird in our pages.

With me it has been fed on canary-seed alternated with a mixture

of sunflower, hemp, oats, and poultry grain, and gets in addition an

occasional nut or piece of very hard and dry biscuit and a little fruit.

Upon this diet it thrives and is getting into hard and tight condition.

It may be safely described as a most attractive Amazon and well

worth its place in a representative collection of such birds.


[The Society is much indebted to Mrs. Cook for illustrating this

paper free of charge, and to Mr. Rogers for defraying the cost of

reproducing the drawing.—G.R.]



