? 6 VASA PARROT. 



The Vasa is found in Madagascar and some adjacent islands, where 

 several species of the genus also exist, namely, the Lesser Vasa (Go- 

 racopsis nigra,) about half the size of the Greater Vasa, and the Praslin 

 Island Vasa, from the Seychelles (Coracopsis BarMyi), which is smaller 

 still. Neither of the latter species appear to be as enduring as the 

 Great Vasa, although a Praslin has survived in the Parrot House for 

 several years. 



Concerning the large species, Herr Janicke writes in Dr. Russ's 

 Foreign Gage Birds, " It is very tame, good-natured, droll, and familiar • 

 but I have not detected the slightest talent for speech/' 



Dr. Russ himself, though classing it among the speaking Parrots 

 does not mention an instance of a talking Vasa, but says, " They whistle 

 loudly and sweetly, pipe tunes extremely well; and learn to imitate the 

 songs of birds ; moreover they readily acquire all sorts of other sounds, 

 such as the barking of dogs, the mewing of cats, cock-crowing, etc." 



M. J. Audebert, however, says "when trained young it whistles 

 excellently, and learns to speak pretty well ; besides, it imitates the voices 

 of all animals, and interweaves with them its own natural notes." 



Our own experience of these birds agrees rather with that of the 

 former than with that of the latter authority ; whistling and the imitation 

 of poultry, a hen after laying an egg, but not of a cock crowing, being 

 the extent of the accomplishments of any of these birds that have come 

 under our immediate notice ; but as the natural warbling is decidedly 

 melodious, it is extremely probable that a young male might be taught 

 a tune, which it would doubtless render with fidelity and expression. 



We have at different times seen two or three of these birds that 

 were speckled with white, much after the fashion of a Houdan fowl ; 

 but whether this was an accidental variation, or whether these mottled 

 birds belonged to a distinct species, we are not in a position to affirm 

 or deny. 



The Vasa Parrot has been known to ornithologists for a long time, 

 and had its specific name imposed upon it by the great Swedish 

 naturalist Linngeus, in honour of Gustavus Vasa, the heroic Scandinavian 

 monarch; who occupies so conspicuous a niche in the temple of fame 

 of his own country. 



In captivity these Parrots are not particularly friendly inter se, 

 although they do not interfere with other birds ; and in their wild state 

 they are usually met with, either singly or in small family parties of 

 from three to six; although a French traveller, Grandidier, reports 

 having seen them in the dense forests of Madagascar, in flocks of from 

 ten to fifty. 



According to some authorities, that of A. and E. Newton, for 



