BED-VENTED PARROT. 109 



The Bed-vented Parrot is not very commonly seen in this country, 

 and consequently commands a high price, which is, in our opinion at 

 least, quite out of proportion to its merits, for, although undeniably 

 handsome, and as a rule very tame, it makes, at best, a very poor 

 talker, but different specimens vary a great deal in intelligence and 

 capacity for acquiring human speech. 



The Hon. and Rev. F. G. Duttori 's account of the Red-vented 

 Parrot (Pionus menstruus). 



Why this bird should be called the Red-vented Parrot, zoologists 

 only know! It is true it has a red vent, but that is quite the least 

 noticeable point about it. The distinguishing part of its plumage is 

 its violet head and neck, and it is much more aptly named by the 

 French, Le Perroquet a camail bleu. 



It is much smaller than the Amazon, but about the same size as 

 the White-fronted Amazon. The beak is horn colour, with a red spot 

 on each side of the upper mandible. The head, neck, and part of the 

 breast are bluish violet, and the feathers on the belly are tipped with 

 blue. The bird is green on the back, but the wings are a yellow 

 green. The vent, as the name implies, is tinged with red. The tail 

 is green, with red at the root of the inner web of the first three 

 feathers. 



Bechstein says the bird comes from Guiana, does not talk, and is 

 very tame and gentle. These remarks I can endorse. All the Pionuses 

 I have seen have been very tame and gentle. Mine took a strong 

 dislike to one man, but the rest of the world could do what they pleased 

 with it. It was very quiet, never screamed, but never learnt anything. 

 It was a stupid bird. It never made any distinction except in the 

 one case I have mentioned. It had no more affection for the person 

 who fed it than it had for any one else. When it flew, it settled on 

 the ground and remained where it lit. It had no idea of coming 

 home again. It was lost owing to this. It flew away, and we did 

 not see where it lit. We could not find it, and it probably fell a 

 prey to a fox. It never washed. Its food is the same as for an 

 Amazon. 



