78 VASA P ABBOT. 



the Greater is the male, and the Lesser the female; which is a pure 

 flight of fancy on his part, as the autopsy on the ancient inmate of 

 the Parrot House at the "Zoo" indisputably proves; but, as Dr. Euss 

 very properly remarks, "Although the resemblance between the two 

 species is slight, yet one may confidently affirm them to be distinct." 



Nothing is accurately known of the habits of the Black Parrot in 

 its wild state. It is said that the white beak becomes a pale brown 

 during the nesting season; but this we have not observed to be the 

 case in captivity; which, however is no reason that the change of 

 colour spoken of by Dr. Finsch may not take place as described by 

 him, especially as his observations have been confirmed by those of 

 other writers. 



The most suitable food for these birds is maize, to which hemp and 

 oats may be added; though they appear to be capable of subsisting 

 upon the most unlikely and unnatural diet, for M. J. Audebert (Euss 

 passim) says, "Mine got roast or boiled meat, broth, fish, vegetables, 

 raw and cooked rice, bananas, sugar-cane, etc., without any evil con- 

 sequences. Eaw flesh they will not touch." In another place he adds, 

 "They kept at a distance, anxiously, from any object with which they 

 were not acquainted, such as glasses, bottles, etc., and never gnawed 

 tables or chairs. The price in Madagascar ranges from fivepence to 

 one shilling a head." 



Avoiding unknown objects, which M. Audebert appears to think a 

 sign of intelligence, tends, we imagine, to prove on the contrary that 

 the Vasa is not entitled to rank with the more sagacious members of 

 its family; and that this is really the case, the general tenour of our 

 observations with respect to it leads us to believe. The Black Parrot 

 is by nature suspicious, but speedily becomes reconciled to captivity. 

 It is, however, incapable of generalization, and if accustomed to a 

 particular object, starts in affright from another that differs from it 

 in the very slightest respect. It spends the greater part of its time 

 asleep, that is to say when not eating; and it is only when made the 

 subject of continual attention by its owner that it rouses itself from 

 the state of melancholy that appears to be natural to it, and puts on 

 a kind of spurious gaiety, which vanishes directly the attention is 

 withdrawn; when the bird becomes as listless and apathetic as before. 



That this behaviour is not the result of grief for the loss of its 

 freedom is quite certain; for one of the Yasas to which we allude was 

 permitted to enjoy almost complete liberty, and differed in no wise 

 from the others as regards the melancholy apathy that seems to be 

 the heritage of the race; which even'in the completely wild state, has 

 not been observed to play like most other members of the Parrot family. 



