4° 



cassell's book of birds. 



foliaged tree, it is often very difficult to see them, as their green hue is a great protection, and their 

 presence is only indicated by the fall of the shells and stones of the fruit they devour. Whilst eating 

 they remain quiet, but if alarmed will utter loud cries. They are shot in great numbers, as they are 

 excellent food, and the soup made from their flesh is much esteemed both in Brazil and Surinam. 

 These parrots lay two white eggs in holes of trees, upon a bed of shreds of wood, chipped out in 

 preparing the nest; they breed but once in die year, and that in die spring time of their native land. 





... • A 



THE AMAZON PARROT {Chrysoth Amazonicus). 



The young, if taken from the nest, are soon tamed, and learn to speak distinctly ; on this account 

 they are frequently found in the Brazilian houses, and are brought in great numbers into the towns, 

 and sold to sailors, who bring them to Europe ; they do not learn to speak so readily as the grey 

 parrot, but prove teachable, tolerably gentle, and amiable towards those that feed them. 



Under the generic name of PIONUS, Wagner unites many small parrots, which we will call the 

 BLUNT-TAILED PARROTS. Their bodies are compact, the tail very short, the wings on the 

 contrary being slender, pointed, and so long that they reach at least as far as the middle of the tail ; 



