56 ALEXANDRINE PABBAKEET. 



susceptible of being tamed as any of its congeners, although we have 

 recently seen it stated that such is not the case: several specimens 

 that, at various times, have come under our own observation were as 

 gentle and amiable as they could well be, and apparently much at- 

 tached to their owners. They vary, however, immensely in disposition, 

 but all of them are extremely impatient of solitude, and, where prac- 

 ticable, should be kept in pairs; not necessarily with a view to breeding 

 them, but in order, by providing them with congenial society, that 

 they may not acquire the objectionable habit of shrieking, so common 

 to all the race, when kept in solitary confinement. 



The Hon. and Rev. F. G. Diction's account of the Alexandrine 

 Parrakeet (Palseornis eupatrius). 



This bird has even greater disadvantages as a pet than the Bengal 

 Parrakeet, inasmuch as its screams are even more disagreeable, and 

 its bill is much more formidable, being nearly as large as a Macaw's. 

 But it can be made as tame, and taught to talk as well as the Bengal 

 Parrakeet. One of these, by the way, made an instance of the third 

 species of Palceornis which I have let out, and which has not returned 

 to its cage. The other species were the Bengal and the Blossom-head. 



