§5



and even in those the exceptional talkers are probably cocks.

Of course you must know how to distinguish a young bird,

unless you know a dealer whom you can trust.


Amazons, however, have their drawbacks over and above

their noisiness, of which they are more easily broken than

Greys are of screaming—they are much more jealous, and more

uncertain. Greys are sometimes jealous, and I have had cock

birds that were quite good-tempered till another was put with

them, and then would bite ; but Amazons can never be trusted

when another Parrot is by, whether the other Parrot be an

Amazon or not. And an Amazon may bite you when you see

no reason at all for it. “ Pomeranian dogs,” say some, “ are

uncertain.” “No,” I always reply, “ not all. They are certain

to bite 3^ou, or certain to leave you alone.” But that is not the

case with an Amazon. He ma}^ be sitting on your hand in a

perfectly good temper, apparently, and suddenly give you a good

bite. I do not think the hens are subject to jealousy, so that if

a bird shows jealousy you may hope you have a cock bird.


In concluding this article, I may say that as I recognise

the difficulty to a beginner in knowing how to distinguish a

young bird, or how to set about getting the Parrot he wants, I

am quite ready to help any member of our Society with advice,

if he likes to write to me.



TOUCANS.


By W. OSBALDESTON.


These birds, up to within the last few j^ears, have been

rarely seen by the average aviculturist. A few were to be found

at the Zoos, but except for their novelty they excited little

interest. Those which, from time to time, found their way to the

dealers’ shops offered little inducement towards the cultivation

of a closer acquaintance, being generally in a rough and almost

naked condition, and fed upon dirty, sloppy food. But a good

many specimens have been imported of late years, and I have

had about ten different species—they have almost all arrived

with cut wings, which makes them look stunted, stupid and

far from pleasing.


When once moulted in a good sized cage or aviary, and fed

upon a suitable diet, they become very ornamental and desirable

birds. It is true they have no song, only a croak, but this

deficiency is made up for by their affedtion for their feeders and

caretakers, the gorgeous hues of their feathers, and the beautiful

transparent tints of their lobster-claw-like mandibles, which, by



