SUN PAliBAKEET. 73 



through catching cold. M. Rousse speaks thus of its capacity for 

 outdoor life in France: — "Elle (la Perruche soleil) reclame quelques 

 precautions pendant les premiers hirers." 



Should we succeed in getting a cheap pair, we shall certainly turn 

 them out into an enclosure by themselves, and there let them take their 

 chance; but while the price remains as high as it is at present (1887), 

 that is, from two to three pounds a piece, we do not care to run any 

 risk of losing them. 



The Sun Parrakeet, or Yellow Conure, is a native of the north- 

 eastern parts of South America, from the Amazon river to Guiana. 

 It also occurs in Venezuela, where the natives term it Kessi-Kessi, 

 from its cry. It is a great favourite with them, according to Richard 

 Schomburgk, and may be seen in the villages to the number of thirty 

 or forty in a flock; breeding in holes in the surrounding trees. 



The young have more red in their plumage, and the wing coverts, 

 as well as the primaries, are green. They change slowly and do not 

 entirely assume the adult plumage until they are three years old; which 

 would, no doubt, in a great measure account for the immediate diversity 

 of colouring they present. 



Though cruel, like all their congeners, to other birds with which 

 they are involuntarily compelled to associate, they are very affectionate 

 among themselves, and dress and preen each other's heads incessantly; 

 only ceasing now and then to feed at the seed-pan, or to disgorge 

 into each other's beaks the half-digested food of which they had 

 partaken. It is curious, that not only the male and female will thus 

 caress each other, but two males, or two females, will conduct them- 

 selves in exactly the same manner ; and so lead any one unacquainted 

 with them to suppose that they were a veritable pair. 



There is no perceptible difference, at least outwardly, between the 

 sexes; but the young, as we have said, differ considerably from their 

 parents. 



We have met with no account of the Sun Parrakeets having bred 

 in this country, or indeed anywhere, in captivity; and should think 

 that no case of reproduction has yet taken place. 



Herr Schomburgk relates that the eggs of this species are about 

 the size of those of the Turtle Dove, and are round and smooth. " No 

 more recent account," laments Dr. Russ in this place, "is unhappily 

 available." 



in. 



