SARDINE'S PARROT. 87 



The Hon. and Rev. F. G. Dutton's account of Jardini s Parrot 

 (Pyocephalus Gulielmi). 



This is a small Parrot, not much larger than the Senegal Parrot, 

 which also belongs to the tribe of Pceocephali. Its beak is dark horn 

 colour, and large for its size, though not so large as that of P. fusci- 

 collis. Its head is green, with a greyish tinge in the green; the 

 feathers of the back are black, edged with green. The upper wing 

 coverts, flight, and tail feathers are black; the secondaries are black, 

 edged with green. The whole of the under part is bright yellow-green, 

 and the bird has red feathers on the forehead, shoulder butts, and 

 knees. I incline to think that either there are two species, or that 

 the male bird has much more red than the female; for the bird now 

 in my possession has very little red and two others I have had, had 

 a great deal. And as mine has moulted twice with me, the slightness 

 of the red cannot be owing to immaturity. 



I was attracted to them first by the tameness of one I saw in the 

 Zoological Gardens, which would come and talk to one, if one noticed 

 it. But I never had the opportunity of keeping one till Mr. Carpenter, 

 of Liverpool, whom I had asked to look out for Meyer's and Ruppell's 

 Parrots for me, sent me the one I have now. I have had two others, 

 both of which have died, owing to my absences from home. Of what 

 the first died I do not know; but the second I believe owed its death 

 to want of water, as it was given no more water than was in sop 

 squeezed dry. They are very thirsty birds, and like a great deal of 

 water. They are very fond of washing, too. 



I have found them soon tamed, and remarkably quick in learning 

 to talk, which they do in a small, rather throaty voice. They are as 

 fond of play as a "Blue-bonnet," and will take a piece of wood and 

 play with it like a kitten. Mine lies on its back, and plays in the 

 most comical way with the wood which it holds in its feet. 



Like all other short-tailed Parrots that I have tried, it has a good 

 homing instinct; and if let out, never flies far from home. Mine 

 recognises my voice or whistle at any distance; and if I call to it, 

 when it is loose, it will at once fly towards me, and keep flying round 

 me. It is a jealous little bird, and is not to be trusted, if strangers 

 are by; but is very affectionate when I am alone with it. Its dispo- 

 sition however is peculiar to itself, for the two others I had did not 

 mind who was by. 



They seem to be somewhat difficult to acclimatise, but very hardy 

 when once fairly established. My bird can stand any cold weather 



