THE COMMON AMAZON PAEEOT. 145 



of the eyes white ; the feet dark brown. The head is white 

 sometimes as far as the poll, and sometimes only on the fore- 

 head. In the male, the poll, or occasionally only the back of 

 the head, is light blue, now and then spotted with red ; in the 

 female the same part is green. The prevailing colour of the 

 plumage is green ; and the feathers, especially in front, are 

 edged with dark brown. The cheeks, the throat, and the top 

 of the neck are a beautiful scarlet; the belly green, mixed 

 with red. The larger pen feathers are blue, though black on 

 the inner plume ; the hinder ones green. The tail is short ; 

 its two centre feathers are green ; the three next red for one 

 third of their length from the root ; the external feathers are 

 similarly marked, but are blueish on the outer plume. In 

 the male the border of the wings is red. 



Observations. This bird is a native of Martinique, Jamaica, 

 and Mexico. It may be treated in the same manner as the 

 preceding species, and, like them, is very tame and talkative. 

 Borne trouble, however, is required to teach it German words, 

 although it easily learns Dutch and English. It immediately 

 learns to imitate the cries of animals, particularly dogs, cats, 

 and sheep. 



48. THE COMMON AMAZON PABHOT. 



Psittac-us (Estivus,Lix. Peroquet Amazone, BUF. Der Gemeine Ama- 

 zonen Papayei, BECH. 



Description. This bird is so often brought to Europe, that it 

 is to be seen constantly both in Holland and England. Notwith- 

 standing that it is as large as a good-sized Pigeon, it is very 

 cheap. It is met with in many varieties, but the following 

 is a general description. The bill is black ; the feet ash-co- 

 loured ; the iris golden yellow ; the forehead and the space 

 between the eyes blueish ; the rest of the body and the throat 

 a clear yellow, the feathers having blueish green borders : the 

 rest of the body light green, changing on the back and belly 

 into a clear yellow ; the border of the wings red ; the upper 

 wing coverts green ; the quill feathers black, yellow, violet 

 blue and red ; the tail green, though when spread out, its fea- 

 thers appear to have a black, red, and blue edge. 



Observations. This bird comes from Guiana, Brazil, and 

 Mexico : learns to speak with difficulty, and is very sociable 



