126 



ASH-COLOURED OR GREY PARROT. 



Psittacus erythacus. LINNAEUS. 



PLATE X. 



Psittacus erythacus, Linn. Syst. Nat. et Auct Psittacus 



Guianensis cinereus, Bris. t. pi. 310. No. 49 Peroquet 



cendre deGuine'e, Buff. PI. Enl. 311. Ash-coloured Par- 

 rot, Shaw's Zoo/. 8. pi. 486. 



MANY of our readers will recognise an old and 

 amusing acquaintance in the characteristic figure of 

 this well-known species, not, indeed, conspicuous for 

 that brilliancy and variety of plumage which distin- 

 guishes the great majority of the tribe, but remark- 

 able for its docility and mimicry, the faculty it pos- 

 sesses of imitating the human voice, as well as any 

 other sound, its never-ceasing garrulity, and its clear 

 and distinct articulation. In most of these particu- 

 lars, it surpasses the rest of its congeners, on which 

 account it has always been held in high estimation 

 by the bird -fancier and lover of living curiosities. 

 This we learn from the large sums that have at all 

 times been offered and given for highly-gifted or 

 well taught individuals. Even as early as A. D. 

 1500, we read of a Parrot at Rome, supposed to be 

 of this species, for which 100 gold pieces were given 



