PARROTS. 



43 



As far as we know at present, this bird prefers dwelling in the wooded district near Guiana and 

 the River Amazon. Spix found it at Villa Nova, on the river above-mentioned. Schomburghk 

 mentions it but twice. He says that he met with it on the Rupununi, and also in the huts of the 

 Warrau Indians ; but though he saw numerous flocks of these magnificent birds enlivening the palm- 

 trees of Sawari, and greeting passers-by with piercing cries, and thus had abundant opportunities for 

 making observations, he tells us extremely little about them. " When angry," he informs us, " this 

 bird is without doubt one of the most beautiful of the parrot race, as it then raises the brilliantly 

 tinted feathers on the back of the neck, until they stand up perpendicularly, thus forming a flowing 

 circle round the head." The settlers call it " Hia," which word is supposed to resemble its cry. 

 From the same writer we learn that this species inhabits the lower woods, approaching the settlements 

 with confidence, and although easily tamed, is weakly and unteachable. It makes its nest in the 

 holes of trees, and lays from two to four eggs. 



THE DWARF PARROTS. 



Among the most vivacious and docile members of this family, the Dwarf Parrots (PsittacuZa) 

 deserve our particular notice, for their behaviour is quite in harmony with their beautiful exterior. 

 "The poets," says Schomburghk, "could not have been aware of the tender love that exists 

 between a little pair of Dwarf Parrots, or they would never have selected doves as their models 

 of ideal tenderness ; indeed, it is impossible to compare the latter with the former in this respect. 

 Between these " Love birds," as we generally call them, there exists the most perfect harmony in all 

 their acts and wishes. They eat together, share the same bath, and if the male bird utters his cry his 

 mate will instantly join her voice to his. Should one fall ill, the other feeds it, and, however many 

 may be assembled on a tree, the little couples never leave each other. It is well known that these 

 elegant little creatures can only be reared in pairs, or, at any rate, they must be allowed the society of 

 some of their race. If taken young out of the nest, before they have chosen a mate, it may happen 

 that solitary individuals can be reared ; but the older birds never survive the death of their little 

 companions, and soon pine themselves to death. More need not be said in favour of these 

 ' inseparable birds.' " 



The " Dwarf Parrots " are not larger than Finches or Larks, and are distinguished by their short, 

 bluntly-hooked beaks, and strikingly short small tails, the feathers of which are tolerably equal in 

 size and pointed. The quills of their wings are short, and when the latter are closed reach to the end 

 of the tail ; their legs are likewise short and feeble. The plumage is soft, long, and large-feathered ; 

 the individual feathers are, usually, not bright, but strikingly coloured and marked. We are 

 acquainted with many species, which are spread over Africa, Asia, and South America, and resemble 

 each other in their habits and mode of life. All are true parrots, climbing the branches with the 

 greatest dexterity, flying rapidly, and feeding upon fruit and corn ; the nests are made in the holes 

 of trees, and dieir eggs are small, rounded, and white. 



SWINDER'S LOVE-BIRD. 



Swinder's Love-Bird (Agapornis Swindcriana), one of the prettiest members of this group, is 

 a tiny creature, at most five inches in length, of which more than one inch belongs to the tail : it is 

 about nine inches broad, and each wing measures three inches from the shoulder to the tip. The 

 prevailing colour of the plumage is green ; the under part of the body, wings, and upper tail-covers 

 are a beautiful azure blue ; the short, scarcely rounded tail is, with the exception of die two middle 



