THE SENEGAL PARROT 



(Pyocephalus senegalus) 



ALTHOUGH the name Senegal parrot, or rather fterroquet de Senegal, has 

 been applied to several distinct members of the parrot tribe, it is now by 

 general consent restricted to the gorgeously coloured species forming the 

 subject of the accompanying illustration. In addition to this name, it has also the 

 titles of orange-bellied long-winged parrot and black-headed parrot, the first of 

 which is the more distinctive, although the second is preferable on account of its 

 conciseness. 



The black-headed parrot is a native of Senegambia and some of the countries 

 of the West Coast properly so called, although the exact limits of its distributional 

 area, which probably extend a considerable way into the heart of the continent, 

 are still imperfectly known. 



This parrot has been a well-known bird in Europe from very early days, 

 as it was mentioned by Aloysius Cada Mosto so long ago as 1445, and was again 

 referred to by the naturalist Brisson in the year 1760. Large numbers of these 

 parrots are at times imported into Europe, especially to Havre and likewise 

 to Liverpool. At the last-named port immense consignments used to be received 

 now and then, but as these were for the most part young birds a very large 

 proportion died soon after their arrival, especially when purchased singly and 

 separated from their companions. Such young birds used to be sold at prices 

 ranging upwards from five or six shillings ; but tamed individuals are worth from 

 twenty to thirty shillings each, while the few specimens that learn to talk fetch 

 much higher prices. 



If caught sufficiently young, these parrots make admirable cage-birds, as 

 they are strikingly handsome, and fairly hardy. Occasionally they will lay in cap- 

 tivity, if provided with a suitable nesting-place. Sometimes they become very 

 tame, although they are always nervous and excitable birds, uttering when alarmed 

 a curious grating sound, and when thoroughly terrified giving vent to a shrill, 

 whistling scream of fear. As a talker, the black-headed species bears, however, 

 no comparison to the common grey parrot ; and it has even been stated that the 

 former is totally unable to learn to speak, although this is an error. The adult 

 cock, which is rather larger and handsomer than his partner, has the head, cheek, 

 and the upper portion of the throat brownish or blackish grey ; the back, rump, 

 and upper tail-coverts are glossy grass-green, while the wing-quills are olive 

 greenish brown, the wing-coverts green with brown middles, and the shoulders, 

 together with the lesser under wing-coverts, yellow. Those portions of the upper 



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