SALVIN'S PARROT 



One of the common and widely distributed 

 birds of the Canal Zone. Early in the morning 

 and before sunset these parrakeets go in flocks 

 from tree to tree, and flying and feeding keep up 

 a shrill, incessant chattering. During the day, 

 sitting in trees, one will give a single call, a flat 

 wddk, answered by a chorus of weechee, weechee, 

 weechee, etc., the performance repeated indefi- 

 nitely. In captivity I have heard them utter 

 poignantly beautiful whistles, sometimes in 

 answer to my whistling. This gentle little bird 

 is one of the greatest sufferers from the cage 

 bird traffic. Dozens of them are often packed 

 into cages or boxes, so closely that they can 

 scarcely move, and shipped north, or sold to 

 sailors or tourists who have neither the know- 

 ledge nor the means of caring for them. A large 

 proportion of them perish from suffocation or 

 starvation long before reaching their intended 

 destination. It is cruel and wasteful to cage 

 these lovely and beautiful little creatures, as 

 they do not long survive in captivity, unable to 

 continue in their active habits and improperly 

 fed, aside from the barbarousness of depriving 

 them of their liberty. 



4. Amazona autumnalis salvini (Salvador!) 

 Salvin's Parrot 



Length 313 mm. (12.30 in.); tail 116 mm. 

 (4-55 in.). 



Sexes alike. Forehead, and extending to in 

 front of eyes, red; remainder of top of head pale 

 156 



