58 PETZ'S GONUBE. 



Psittacus Oanicularis : — " This species, which is rather common among 

 us, is ten inches in length, of which the tail measures half, the folded 

 wings covering one third, the forehead is scarlet, the top of the head 

 a fine sky blue, paler at the back ; the upper part of the body meadow 

 green, the under lighter. The forehead is orange in the female. This 

 Parrot is handsome, but does not speak. Although a native of South 

 America, it is not very delicate or difficult to preserve.-" 



The English translator of "Die Naturgeschichte der Stubenvogel," 

 names this bird " The Eed and Blue-headed Parrakeet," a name which 

 describes it fairly well, as the colours vary in different individuals; 

 being lighter in some and darker in others. 



Herr Schlectendal, who kept several of these birds, gives them the 

 best character for amiability with each other, and good-fellowship with 

 cognate species ; such as the Tovi and Tirika Conures, and the Jendaya, 

 with which one of his Petz's struck up at first sight a friendship that 

 was only broken by death. 



The small Conures generally are not large drinkers, and seldom take 

 water more than two or three times a day ; neither are they very large 

 eaters, and should in no wise have soft food given to them. Canary 

 seed should be their staple diet, with a little hemp now and then, 

 but a continuance of the latter seed would make them too fat, and 

 also be apt to induce disease of the liver. 



Fruit, ripe and sweet, such as grapes, figs, or a slice of ripe pear 

 may be offered during the season once or twice a week; half decayed 

 wood should also be placed at their disposal, and flints broken up 

 small, which last aid the digestion and should always be supplied. 



Nuts, such as Brazil and filberts, or the edible chestnut, may also 

 be occasionally given as a treat ; but " monkey " nuts are too oily and 

 sometimes give rise to diarrhoea. 



With regard to bathing these Conures differ amazingly, some of them 

 appear to have a positive horror of cold water ; while others again are 

 never happy except when splashing themselves from head to food ; but 

 they rarely step into the bath and have a regular good " tub," although 

 I have also seen this done. In their native woods there is no occasion 

 for these birds to wash, for they get quite sufficiently wetted by the 

 dew that clings to the leaves and branches in the early morning, and 

 may then be seen in flocks pluming and drying themselves in the 

 beams of the rising sun. 



When a Petz's Conure does learn to repeat a few words it is in a 

 very small voice indeed, and the meaning is not always plain, especially 

 to strangers ; but when imagination's aid has been invoked to interpret 

 the semi-articulate sounds, it is surprising what a copious vocabulary 



