Amazon Parrots. 441 



as visitors of these establishments expect to see a general collection of animals, and thereby 

 the minute care of any special department becomes difficult. In the Zoological Garden of 

 Antwerp, birds have been bred and dealt in as a business, and the enormous success of this 

 splendid garden has been largely due to its traffic in foreign birds. 



But to return to Grey Parrots. It is certain that some have lived for over fifty years, 

 and no limit to their endurance, if once acclimatised, can be stated. Their food should be 

 hemp, canary-seed, oats, wheat, and Indian corn. They will become accustomed to almost 

 anything which human beings eat. Ripe fruit, nuts, and biscuits are a welcome occasional 

 addition to their diet. Bathing is very beneficial, and if Parrots do not bathe of their own 

 free will, exposure to a warm shower in summer, or a warm shower bath, so applied by a 

 garden syringe that the bird does not become frightened, improves the condition and plumage. 



BLUE-FRONTED AMAZON [Cktysotis mstivd). South America. (Illustrated.) 

 Psitlacus astivtis (Russ). English dealers' name — Amazon Parrot. German name — " Rothbug-amazone." 



The Amazon is, next to the Grey Parrot, the best talking bird in existence. Considering 

 the enormous mortality of newly-imported Grey Parrots, I should recommend the Amazon 

 in preference to the Grey Parrot to any one intending to train or teach a Parrot. Young 

 Amazons may be recognised by the brown colour of the eye, which with age changes to 

 orange. Food and treatment of Amazons should be exactly like that of Grey Parrots. 



The varieties of Amazon Parrots are very numerous, the list of the Zoological Gardens 

 containing no less than twenty-five species, all natives of South America, Central America, 

 and the West Indies. Opinions differ greatly about the talents of the various kinds, which, 

 if fairly compared, are probably about equal. The Blue-fronted Amazon is the most frequently 

 imported. 



From the large short-tailed Grey and Amazon Parrot we now turn our attention to the 

 smallest members of the Parrot family, the Love-birds. It may be stated at once that a 

 great deal of trash has been written about these birds. They are neither more nor less loving 

 than many other birds ; and as to their dying if the mate happens to die, it is simply a 

 myth, for a single bird will live very well. The truth is that thoughtless bird-keepers have 

 often treated those birds wrongly, and the same improper food or draught caused both birds 

 to fall ill, only not quite at the same time. Number One is then supposed to have died 

 because he was home-sick, and Number Two from grief for Number One ; while in reality both 

 birds together, or either singly, might have done very well, if it had either arrived free from 

 disease and been properly treated. 



RED-HEABED LOVE-BIRD, OR LOVE-BIRD PARRAKEET {Agapornis pullaria). West Africa. (Illustrated.) 



Psittacus pullarius (Russ), P. minimus, P. Guineensis, Psittacula pullaria. English dealers' name — Red-headed or Abyssinian 



Love-bird. German name — •" Unzertrennliche," or "Inseparable." 



This Parrakeet is not larger than a Sparrow, and the little green fellow with his crimson 



face is a very pretty sight. When many are seen together, as at a wholesale dealer's, they will 



be found sitting together on the same perch as closely as possible. Male and female are much 



alike ; the face of the hen-bird is believed to be less red, but as the intensity of the red tint 



66 



