126 



ASH-COLOURED OR GREY PARROT. 



Psittacus erythacus LINN^US. 



PLATE X. 



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

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

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

 rot, Shaw's ZooL 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 



