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The late 0. E. Cresswell—Parrots



PARROTS


By the late 0. E. Cresswell

(Communicated by Miss Frances Cresswell.)


(Continued from p. 68.)


The last (fourth) of the Asiatic Psittacidae to which I would allude

are the beautiful little Parrotlets of Ceylon, the Malay Peninsula, and

the Great Islands. They are Parrots of the tiniest dimensions and

most elegant form. They are rarely seen in captivity, simply, I

believe, because they rarely survive the voyage. Some of the most

interesting of them are the Hanging Parrakeets, who spend almost

their whole time hanging head downwards from twigs or in cages from

their perches. The few which do reach these shores are generally

sold as “ Lovebirds ”, which they much resemble ; they must not,

however, be compared with the Lovebirds proper of Africa. The latter

all have broad tails when spread out. These Parrotlets of Asia, as

well as those from South America, have pointed tails'.


I pass to the African Continent. This is not really rich in Parrots,

unless we consider that the amazing talent of the Grey Parrot makes

up for the few species which inhabit the great continent, and its

adjacent island Madagascar. Of the larger Parrots the only species

I can trace are : in Madagascar, the Great Black Vasa, to which I have

already alluded ; the famous Grey, from the south and south-west

regions; the short-tailed particoloured Senegal Parrot; and the

Green Ring-necked Parrakeet (similar to the Bengal Parrakeet, but

a trifle larger), which is found in Senegambia and eastward across

the Continent.


Of the Lovebirds proper (Agapornis) there are seven species—four

of the greatest rarity and three which are well known:—


1. The Madagascar, the cock of which has a pearl-grey head.


2. The well-known species with red heads and particoloured tails

from the west coast.


3. The Peach-faced, somewhat larger, but similar species from

Abyssinia.


A peculiarity of the Lovebirds is that they—at least, I believe the

hens alone do it—carry up stuff for the lining of their nests in the

feathers of their tails. The vast family of Parrots is almost at one in



