CHAPTER L. 



Parrot. 



I HIS is my Prince of Parrots, and without exception 

 the very nicest bird that I have ever been privileged 

 to have the custody of for a time. Others may have 

 been more accomplished or have been adorned with more 

 brilliant colours, but not one was so tame and gentle 

 (with me at all events, if not with everyone), so full 

 of tricks and fun, as this one. 



Not but that Nature has been prodigal of gifts to 

 it, in the shape of adornment, for it is really a hand- 

 some bird, if the tints of the plumage are not gaudy 

 or glaring. In size it about equals the last two, and 

 I consider it a marvel of our Great Mother's taste in 

 the combination of colours. 



The top of the head is creamy white; the occiput, 

 cheeks, and ear-coverts, are whitish-grey, with a 

 white line running down the centre of each feather ; 

 instead of being rounded like those of most birds in 

 the same part of the body, the head- covering of this 

 bird is acuminated, each plume ending in a narrow 



