i62 BIRDS 



ginning to discourage dealers, so that importations of these 

 birds are yearly becoming less. 



Unlike most parrots, the Gray is not difficult to sex. The 

 female iS generally smaller than the male, and the bare 

 patch around the eye is rounded posteriorly in the former, 

 but ends in a point in the sterner sex. 



Of the green Amazon Parrots, there are about forty-five 

 known forms, but few of which are usually to be had 

 from dealers. All of the common species are mostly green, 

 with wings and tails variously marked with red, blue and 

 yellow. It is the markings of the head, however, that are 

 most characteristic, and as the following descriptions are 

 for the purpose of identification only, we shall confine them 

 to those parts. 



The Yellow-headed Amazon, or " Double Yellow- 

 head " (Ama^ona oratrix), of Mexico, is the most popu- 

 lar species. As implied by the name, the green plumage is 

 enlivened by a head of pale yellow. The beak is white. The 

 yellow is less extensive in young birds, covering a greater 

 expanse as the parrot becomes adult. Parrots of this species 

 become excellent talkers and also learn songs, their voices 

 being particularly adapted to this form of vocal expression. 



The Yellow-fronted Amazon, or " Single Yellow- 

 head " {A. ochrocephala) , is somewhat smaller than the 

 preceding, and has the yellow confined to the forehead only. 

 The bill is blackish when adult, with base of the upper 

 mandible fleshy-colored. It is found in northern South 

 America. It is commonly imported, and makes a very 

 good talker. The Panama Amazon (A. panamensis) is 

 very similar, but has the bill white throughout. These 

 species often are not distinguished in the trade. 



The Golden-naped Amazon (A. auripalliata) ranges 

 from western Mexico to Costa Rica. It is a large bird, 

 with a yellow patch on the nape, which is wanting in im- 



