95 



JAMAICA §ARROT, 

 HITE-gRONTED J|mAZON. 



Psittacus collaria, Lnn. 



Synonyms: Ohrysotis collaria, Ge.; 0. Amazonica, Fnsch.; 



Psittacus leucocephalus var. 8, Wgle. 



German : Der Jamaika Amazone. Fbench : Perroquet de la Martinique. 



THIS little bird is one of the smaller members of the genus 

 Ohrysotis, and a native of Jamaica, where at one time it was very 

 abundant, but is now found in yearly decreasing numbers. It was 

 known to and described by Linnaeus; and is yet to be met with 

 occasionally in the dealers' shops on the continent of Europe, as well 

 as in this country, where it is priced at from fifteen to twenty shillings; 

 although a trained and talking specimen would necessarily command 

 a larger sum, and sometimes it can be obtained for less than the former. 



Of its linguistic attainments we are not able to report favourably; 

 the various specimens that have come under our notice from time to 

 time not having attained to any very great degree of proficiency in 

 the art of imitating the human voice; although domestic sounds, such 

 as the cackling of hens, quacking of ducks, and the cooing of pigeons 

 were rendered by one of these birds with extraordinary fidelity. 



Dr. Euss is of the same opinion in this respect, and credits Ohrysotis 

 collaria with small capacity for learning to speak, although he commends 

 it as "teachable" {geleJirig). 



It is very destructive to the fruit crops, especially to the oranges, 

 in its native island; hence a war of extermination is waged against it 

 by the inhabitants, which must eventually end in its extermination as 

 a species, unless it could be perpetuated in a state of domesticity. In 

 the house it is best dieted on boiled maize and hemp seed, with an 

 occasional tit-bit in the shape of some ripe fruit, or a morsel of sweet 

 cake or biscuit; but animal food should be strictly prohibited. 



