58 THE LOXO-TAILED GREEN pARRAKEET. 



Habitation. — This parrot is also a native of the hottest parts of South 

 America, frequenting savannas, or any other open places, and building its 

 nest even in the holes of the Termites (Termes fatalis, Linn^us.) These 

 birds are so sociable that they may be seen in flocks of five or six 

 hundred. 



In the house, they must always be kept in pairs, and generally in cages. 

 They show the tenderness of their attachment to each other by their con- 

 tinual caresses ; this is in fact so great, that if one die the other soon 

 languishes from grief. 



Food When these birds go forth to steal chestnuts, acorns, peas, and 



similar fruits, which form their food, they always place a sentinel to warn 

 them of the approach of an enemy : at the least alarm, they fly away, 

 uttering loud cries. When confined, they are fed with nuts, and bread 

 soaked in boiled milk. 



Attractive Qualities. — Their handsome plumage, their affectionate and 

 confiding ways, and the tenderness of attachment which these pretty birds 

 have for each other, make them great favourites ; but they learn scarcely 

 any thing, and their continual cries are sometimes very annoying. 



THE LONG-TAILED GREEN PARRAKEET. 



Fsittacus rufirostris, LiNN^us ; Le Sincialo, Buffon; Dcr rothschnablige Sittich, 

 Bkchstein. 



The length of this species is twelve inches and a half, but 

 the tail alone measures seven inches and a half. This bird is 

 not larger than a blackbird ; the folded wings only cover one 

 quarter of the tail, the centre feathers of which are nearly five 

 inches longer than the exterior ones. The upper mandible of 

 the beak is of a blood red, with the point black ; the under 

 one is entirely black. The circle of the eyes, the naked mem- 

 brane of the beak, and the feet, are flesh-coloured ; the ii-ides 

 are orange. The rest of the body is yellowish green, with the 

 wings bordered with light yellow. There are varieties of dif- 

 ferent shades of green,* the tail feathers of which are blue at 

 the extremity. 



This species inhabits the hottest part of South America. Its 

 cry is noisy and frequent ; it soon learns to speak, whistle, and 

 imitate the sounds of most animals as well as birds. In the 

 cage, where it cannot have much other exercise, it chatters and 

 squalls so incessantly, that it is often very disagreeable. It 

 must be treated like the preceding species, but does not appear 

 fio delicate. 



