216 PARROT. 



This is found in Guiana, where, according to Buffon, it was 

 naturalized from the East Indies, and is observed to have a sharp and 

 shrill cry, different from all other Parrots of the American Continent ; 

 and when irritated, is said to set up the feathers round the head like 

 a ruff. 



B.— Perroquet varie, Fermin. Surin. ii. 176. 



This is probably the same bird, or a slight variety. M. Fermin 

 briefly describes it with the feathers of the neck variegated ; a deep 

 reddish colour, tipped with elegant blue; belly the same, but sprinkled 

 with brown ; back green ; quills bluish ; tail wholly green. 



Inhabits Surinam, and has the same faculty of setting up the 

 feathers round the head as a ruff" or crest, especially when angry. 



149— THECAU PARROT. 



Psittacus cyanolyseos, Ind. Orn. i. 127. Molin. Chil. (Fr. ed.) 235. 

 Thecau Parrot, Gen. Syn. Sup. ii. 94. 



SIZE of a common Pigeon. Round the neck a fine blue collar; 

 head, wings, and tail green, spotted with yellow; back, throat, and 

 belly yellow ; tail of a moderate length, and even at the end. 



Inhabits Chili, where it is called Thecau ; is a numeious species, 

 and flies in vast troops, doing much injury to the corn ; said to have 

 a centinel on the watch, so as to make it difficult to shoot ; breeds in 

 the holes of rocks, and lays two white eggs, chusing the most 

 inaccessible places. The natives let themselves down from the top of 

 these rocks by ropes, to take the eggs and young birds, which are 

 thought excellent as a dish for the table ; and the birds, though 

 robbed of the contents of the nest, will lay again, as far as four 

 times. This bird is easily tamed, and speaks well. 



