146 THE BLUE-FACED PARROT. 



and faithful. In the necessary mode of treatment it resembles 

 the foregoing. 



49. THE YELLOW-HEADED AMAZON PARROT. 



Psittacus Ochrocephalus, LIN. L'Amazone a tetejaune, BUF. Der Gelb- 

 kopfige Amazonen Papaqei, BECH. 



Description, This bird, about as large as a middle-sized 

 Pigeon, is one foot two inches long, of which the beak mea- 

 sures one inch and a half, and the tail five inches. The beak 

 is strong, orange on the sides of the upper and the root of the 

 lower mandible, but elsewhere dark ashen grey or brown. 

 The egg-shaped circles of the eye are bare, and a light ashen 

 grey ; the iris a golden yellow ; the wax black ; the strong feet 

 ashen grey ; the claws blackish. The forehead and back of the 

 head, neck, back, shoulder feathers, wing coverts and hindmost 

 tail feathers, are dark and leek green ; the under part of the body 

 and the under wing coverts are yellowish green. The upper bor- 

 der of the wings is deep red, mixed with yellow on the foremost 

 joint ; the top of the head, as well as a small band round the 

 knees, deep or golden yellow. The front quill feathers are black, 

 outwardly edged with green, but towards the quill tinged with 

 blue ; the middle quill feathers are also black, the foremost 

 half deep red on the outer plume, tinged with blue towards 

 the point ; the hinder wing feathers green on the outer plume, 

 but otherwise like the forward half ; the under quill feathers 

 blueish green ; the tail green, growing yellowish towards the 

 point ; the three outer feathers, on the inside of the plume half 

 way from the root, deep red, mixed with yellow at the side. 



Varieties are found, having 1. The forehead a pale yellow, 

 and the colours in general lighter. 2. The forehead and sides 

 of the head a clear yellow. 3. The yellow of the head mixed 

 with green. 



Observations. This bird is a native of South America. It 

 seems to be incapable of learning anything, as the example I 

 have before me will only utter a strong harsh scream, which 

 is its natural voice. The amateur must, therefore, content 

 himself with the scarcity and beautiful plumage of this bird. 



50. THE BLUE-FACED PARROT. 



Psittacus Autumnatts, LIN. Le Crik a tete Bleue, BUF. Der Herbst 



Krich Papagei, BECH. 

 Description. The Blue-faced Parrot is as large as a mode- 



