GOLDEN PARROT. 47 



and their young ones of the year. Burmester never saw it, and Natterer 

 and Spix but once or twice. 



There is no appreciable difference in outward appearance between 

 the sexes, but the young are said to be more or less spotted with 

 green, especially on the back and wing coverts. 



That these beautiful birds are eminently hardy may be gathered from 

 the fact, that one of them has survived since 1871 in the Parrot House 

 of the Zoological Gardens in Regent's Park, where it is fed on maize, 

 hemp, and boiled rice, and appears to be in as good health as it 

 certainly is in condition, and attracts the notice of visitors, not only 

 by its handsome appearance, but by its grotesque movements and loud 

 and shrill outcries. 



Notwithstanding this latter decided drawback we are of opinion that 

 the Golden Parrot is as worthy as any other member of the family, 

 of occupying a prominent position in the collection of every amateur, 

 who may be fortunate enough to secure a specimen; and should the 

 opportunity present itself in our case we should not for a moment 

 consider the bird's notes as a reason for rejecting it, but gladly put 

 up with it voice for the sake of the beautiful creature from whose 

 throat it proceeds. Suppose it does not learn to speak: what then? 

 Many people keep peacocks, which are not a whit more clever, and 

 have a decidedly more disagreeable note. 



This bird is classed with the Oonures, but erroneously so we think, 

 for it differs from them not only in size, but in the formation of the 

 beak and tail, in which it approaches more nearly to the Hawk-heads, 

 which it further resembles by the elongated nuchal feathers, which it 

 also has the power of ruffling up to a certain extent, though not in 

 such a remarkable manner as the latter birds, but more after the 

 fashion of the Grey-breasted Parrakeet. 



These birds are, as we have said, rare, but iu addition to the London 

 Zoological Gardens, those of Berlin and Antwerp possess examples, 

 and others are to be met with in the avaries of a few fortunate 

 amateurs, among whom Dr. Russ mentions the Prince Ferdinand of 

 Saxe Coburg Gotha. 



Considering its extremely rare occurrence in European countries, no 

 price can be fixed for the Golden Parrot, which will fetch whatever 

 a fortunate importer may be able to obtain from an admiring con- 

 noisseur, but one of these birds would certainly not be dear at, say, 

 five-and-twenty pounds sterling, and would probably bring more. 



To sum up, giving the non-attractive qualities first: the Golden 

 Parrot does not learn to speak, and screams shrilly at times. On the 

 other hand, it is very hardy, as are most Brazilian birds, very hand- 



