Some Hints on Parrot-Keeping.



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perly cared for, and in the case of the large species, at any rate, very

indifferent to cold. They often make excellent talkers—the blue and

yellow being the best—and become much attached to their owners,

though they are sometimes treacherous with those they do not know.

Their chief drawbacks are their destructive propensities and deafen¬

ing cries. Macaws generally stay w T ell when allowed their liberty,

and if attached to their owner and familiar with their surroundings

can safely be released full-winged.


The rare Blue Macaws—Lear’s, Hyacinthine, etc., are as

hardy as the commoner kinds, but appear more inclined to stray if

allowed complete liberty- They are generally very docile and

affectionate and are rather less noisy than the other members of the

group. They are not particularly aggressive in mixed company,

although they are well able to assert themselves. Macaws are very

difficult to sex.


CONURES. —A large family of Parrakeets of small or medium

size, the majority of which inhabit South America and the adjacent

islands. They are easily kept, either in cage or aviary and most of

the common species can be wintered out of doors. Conures are

lively and intelligent birds, easily tamed and capable of learning

to talk : they are, however, extremely noisy, very destructive

and often quarrelsome with other birds, especially those not nearly

related to them. They should be fed and treated like Amazon

Parrots, but should only be allowed hemp seed in small quantities,

as they sometimes suffer from fatty degeneration of the liver. The

sexes are usually much alike.


QuakerPARRAKEET {Myopsittacusmonachus )—A very hardy

bird, indifferent to cold even when newly imported and closely

resembling the Conures in disposition. It is usually spiteful with

Parrots and Parrakeets, but tolerably inoffensive towards birds of

other orders. If allowed complete liberty it usually stays well for a

time but ultimately wanders away, and it is more destructive than

any other bird of its size I know.


Lovebirds.- —A small genus of diminutive short-tailed

Parrots, which despite their popular name, are not conspicuous for

amiability towards their neighbours or even for the idyllic character



