VASA PARROT. 77 



example, these birds are indigenous to the Island of Keunion; but this, 

 we imagine, to be an error, as there is no evidence of any connection 

 between that Island and the principal habitat of the Vasas, Madagascar; 

 though it is of course possible that Black Parrots may have been 

 intentionally imported into the former, from the latter island, and have 

 established themselves, as other species have done, in their new location. 



Newton says in this connection: "The Black Parrot lives alone among 

 the highest trees of Keunion, where his dusky plumage harmonises well 

 with his quiet, not to say melancholy, disposition; and his presence is 

 detected by his loud and shrill piping. When one of these birds has 

 been shot, the captor in taking hold of it, must be careful, for they 

 bite viciously." 



Poor creatures ! under the circumstances who can blame them ? Does 

 not even a worm turn when it is wounded? Audebert, with whom the 

 Black Parrot seems to have been a favourite, bears testimony as follows 

 to its general good behaviour: — "I know few Parrots which give so 

 much pleasure to their owners. It does not scream or gnaw, is good- 

 tempered, allows itself to be taken in the hand and carried about without 

 fear, and never bites"; observations that tally with our own as to the 

 familiarity and gentleness of these birds. 



Although of sufficiently common occurrence in Madagascar, where it 

 is frequently tamed by the inhabitants, and kept as a pet, chained to 

 a stand, the Black Parrot is not very frequently imported into Europe; 

 for demand, as a rule, creates and regulates, the supply of a given 

 article, and the Vasas are not in much request among amateurs, although 

 the few specimens that are occasionally offered fetch a good price — 

 from thirty to forty shillings apiece in this country; and in Germany, 

 on the authority of Dr. Puss, from forty to forty-five marks. One of 

 the speckled birds which we saw at JamracVs, was offered to us for 

 three pounds sterling; however, though said to be moulting, it was 

 evidently a feather-eater, and we declined it, as we did another in 

 better condition, for which another dealer, in whose shop we saw it, 

 asked the modest sum of £7; which, however, we have occasion to 

 believe, he did not get; as we heard that he afterwards disposed of 

 the bird for fifty shillings. 



Dr. Puss, we cannot say on what authority, relates that "The abori- 

 gines (presumably of Madagascar) often tame these birds in considerable 

 numbers, and bring them to Mauritius, whence they are imported into 

 Europe." 



Although undoubtedly belonging to different species, some authors 

 consider the Greater and Lesser Vasas to be specifically identical ; and 

 one Herr Linden, a contemporary writer, even ventures to affirm that 



