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Parrot” (Red-faced Rove Bird), the “ Yellow-Winged Parrot”

(apparently the Yellow-shouldered Amazon), and the “ Green

Macaw” (which from the description I judge to be Illiger’s

Macaw).


Of these four species, the “ Ash-coloured Parrot ” is said

to be “ the species now most commonly brought into Europe,”

and the “ Guinea Parrot ” is described as being “ so common in

this country that it does not meet with that degree of admiration

which is due to its superior elegance.” Of the “ Yellow-winged

Parrot,” it appears that very little was known, and the “ Green

Macaw” is called “this rare and beautiful bird.”


The account of the Grey Parrot consists almost exclusively

of stories of its talking powers : We are told of the “ Guinea

Parrot ” that “ these birds abound not only in Ethiopia and

Guinea, but also in Java, where they are seen in immense flocks.

The trading vessels continually bring away considerable numbers

in cages ; but they are so tender that most of them die in their

passage to our colder climates. It has also been remarked that

many of them have dropped down dead through timidity at the

firing of a vessel’s great guns. Should they survive their voyage,

they live a long time if kept together in pairs, and have even been

known to propagate.”


With reference to the proper treatment of Parrots in

confinement, our author is for the most part discreetly silent,

but we are told of the “Yellow-winged Parrot:” “ The food

commonly given him consists of hemp seed, nuts, fruits of every

kind, and bread soaked in wine : he would prefer meat, but

that kind of aliment has been found to make him dull and heavy

and to cause his feathers to drop off” while the Green Macaw

“ eats almost every article of human food : it is particularly fond

of bread, beef, fried fish, pastry and sugar ” : Poor Green

Macaw!


The Toucan (by which is apparently meant the Ariel

Toucan), is described as being easily tamed, and was presumably

therefore known as a cage-bird. The “ Icteric Oriole” (Brazilian

Hang-nest), we are told “ feeds on inserts, for the purpose of

killing which, the Americans keep it in their houses.”


The “Grenadier Grosbeak” (Oryx Weaver) is described,

but does not appear to have been known as a cage-bird, but the

“Weaver Oriole” (presumably the Oriole Weaver) was known,

for “ two females having been brought (from Africa) and kept

together in a cage, it was observed that they entwined some of

the stalks of the pimpernel, with which they were fed, in the



