SENEGAL PABBOT. 59 



they wander about, and at times do considerable damage to the banana, 

 rice, maize, etc., crops. 



"The Black-headed Parrot is chiefly important as an ornamental 

 bird for zoological gardens, or particular amateurs. Although the earlier 

 authors unite in declaring that these birds have no power of speech, 

 the contrary has been proved in many cases; of late, accounts have 

 been given of specimens which had learned to speak. Such descriptions 

 have been recorded by Herr Yon Schlechtendal in Merseburg, and 

 Herr Fielder in Agram, and also by Herr A. E. Blaauw. 



"Old birds of this kind are extremely wild and unmanageable; amid 

 piercing screams he flings himself head downwards at every approach, 

 squeezes himself into a corner, and utters a curious grating noise; 

 young birds, however, are soon tamed and are very docile. One of 

 these birds was able to open every door, and was fond of playing, and 

 extremely droll, also very good-tempered and confiding, permitting his 

 head to be scratched, allowing himself to be taken out of the cage 

 and caressed, but he only learned to speak a few words, though he 

 imitated the notes of other birds. 



"Herr Blaauw relates that his Black-headed Parrot spoke French 

 very prettily, very distinctly and softly. 'It has a strange effect, when 

 he mixes the different words and sentences with his natural notes, and 

 thus screams with articulate sounds.' 



"Immediately after importation, even this otherwise strong and hardy 

 Parrot has shown itself to be very delicate, at least of late: he is 

 apt to fall ill on every change of diet, esjaecially, it seems, if too lavishly 

 supplied with hemp. At first therefore it should receive only canary 

 seed and oats, and later, by degrees, hemp and sunflower seeds. A 

 small supply of sound, sweet fruit is also necessary. 



"A freshly-imported Black-headed Parrot can be bought at from 

 fifteen to twenty shillings; tame ones from twenty to thirty shillings. 

 I cannot name a price for a speaker, since such must still be con- 

 sidered as rarities, and scarcely obtainable in the trade/-' 



As we write these birds are offered very cheaply in the English 

 market, namely at prices ranging from five to six shillings a piece, 

 and are chiefly imported via Liverpool, where they sometimes arrive 

 in immense numbers; but as they are mostly quite young, very many 

 of them die soon after arrival, especially when purchased singly. 



Owing to the fact that the name of Senegal Parrot, Perroquet cle 

 Senegal, has been given to several birds, a certain amount of confusion 

 exists as to the identity of each; but the Mohrenkopf is, we consider, 

 more justly entitled to the designation than the other species which 

 are described by several authors under the name which, following the 



