BLUE-FRONTED AMAZON. 101 



show that lie had at least some idea of the use of words, some com- 

 prehension of the import of what he was saying. 



That a Parrot is possessed of wit, or irony, is incredible, but that 

 he does attach a meaning to certain words is, we think, incontestible. 

 It must be remembered that some of these birds are much more 

 intelligent than others, and in this respect the males appear to excel 

 the females, which are usually incapable of learning much. To this 

 rule there are certainly exceptions, but these are few and far between; 

 a good talking bird may safely be set down as a male, and a quiet, 

 silent, meditative one as a female. Speech, however, being "silvern", 

 and silence " golden", it follows that the lady birds have the advantage 

 over their mates in the matter of true intelligence: vivent les dames! 



The Hon. and Rev. F. G. DuttorCs account of the 

 Blue-fronted Amazon (Chrysotis sestiva). 



This, next to the Grey Parrot, is about the commonest Parrot kept. 

 It never, however, fetches as low a price. One may buy a Grey Parrot 

 for fifteen shillings, but Amazons are generally about twenty-five 

 shillings. It 'is one of the best to keep, as it learns quickly to talk, 

 and when it becomes a good talker, gives up screaming. I find them 

 a better-tempered Parrot, as a rule, than the Grey. They are more 

 apt at imitating sounds than the Grey Parrot. The Grey does not 

 pick up laughing, crying, and such like sounds as the Amazon does. 

 The Amazon, too, has a special power of giving the idea of a con- 

 versation. You hear no word distinctly, but you would certainly say 

 two people were talking together. An Amazon, too, talks much more 

 freely before strangers than a Grey; and certainly one that really talks 

 well is to be preferred to a Grey for that reason. But though I have 

 had Amazons which ceased to scream when they had learnt to talk, 

 they are not sure to give it up, and if a Grey becomes a talker, • it 

 almost always does. In that respect the Grey is the better bird to 

 keep. The Amazon is unlike the Grey in this: when people notice 

 it, it will spread its tail and wings, and contract its pupils, like a 

 Bengal Parrakeet; I have never seen a Grey Parrot do anything of 

 the sort. And, like the Bengal, the Amazon sometimes gives you a 

 nip when in this state of excitement. 



They are remarkably hardy birds, and can easily be taught to fly 

 about loose, and find their way home. Bnt I do not let my Amazons 

 out, if they are good talkers. Giving them their liberty makes them 

 forget their talking and return to screaming. 



