110



My Brown-necked Parrot.



MY BROWN-NECKED PARROT.


Pceocephalus fuscicollis.


By Hubert D. Astley.


In the Avicultural Magazine of Feb., 1910, Dr. Hopkinson

gave a most interesting account, accompanied by an excellent

illustration of what someone was pleased to entitle as the Brown¬

necked Parroc, which someone must have been completely colour¬

blind. To begin with there is no brown about the bird at all, and

secondly why “ brown-necked ” ? for the whole head and neck to the

shoulders is of the same colour, a difficult colour to describe I

admit; but it is no more brown than it is blue or yellow ! I should

venture to call it silvery-grey, suffused with dull rose pink, that is to

say each dull pink feather seems to have a silvery grey edging.

“ Silvery-headed ” would have been nearer the mark. But there it

is, some birds have names which make one wonder whether those

who christened them were not what is called “ ga-ga.”


Now Dr. Hopkinson described this Parrot not only as

difficult to keep alive but also as untractable, a biter and a screecher.

Indeed any aviculturist after reading his most interesting article

would undoubtedly say “ Thank you, no Brown-headed Parrot for

me.” Have I found the exception to prove the rule ? Mr. Cross

wrote to offer me one which he said was very tame and had evidently

been made a pet of. Mike arrived on the 29th September, 1914, and

was consequently, without much self-congratulation as to originality,

christened after the archangel.


And Mike is quite worthy of taking his place in St. Michael’s

angelic hosts, for wings he has, and an angelic temper too.


He’s never happy unless he can sit on my shoulder, delighting

in being handled, and making no end of a fuss when in his cage

until one takes him out.


As yet he doesn’t talk, but he tries his very best, and can

imitate the sound of kissing and other such canoodling noises ; but

scream —never once have I heard him.


And he’s a very gay spirit too, nothing morose, nothing

stupid about Mike, with his dark brown eye full of intelligent

expression.



