110 YELLOW-NAPED AMAZON. 



which should rather be undertaken by the various Zoological Societies 

 and Societies d' Accliraatation throughout the world; which, although 

 they undoubtedly have done a good deal, have by no means exhausted 

 the possibilities of scientific effort in the direction indicated. 



Our London Zoological Society has at various times possessed thirty 

 species of Amazon Parrots out of thirty-eight enumerated by Dr. Russ, 

 who divides these birds into three groups ; the first of which contains 

 sixteen species with red dappling on the wings (Mit rothem Flugelspiegel), 

 and one (Chrysotis xanthops) without. 



The second group consists of eight species with blue wing coverts, 

 and, for the most part, with red frontal band and red eye streak. 



The third group contains thirteen species, subdivided as follows : — 

 Firstly, five with the edges of the wings and the first wing coverts 

 marked with red; secondly, two without red dappling on the wings; 

 thirdly, six species that have red dappling on the wings; all three 

 sub-groups having red on the heads, and the first wing coverts green. 



This division is not without its disadvantages; for the Amazons, as 

 we have said, are by no means uniform in colouring in many of the 

 species; and we think a preferable mode of classification is by size, 

 which varies considerably. Thus we have the large group, veritable 

 giants of the race, such as Natterer's, and the Mealy Amazons, which 

 measure about nineteen inches in length; then we have the medium- 

 sized birds, of which the subject of the present notice, the Surinam 

 and Festive Amazons are examples, their length varying from fifteen 

 inches and a half to fourteen inches; and lastly the small Amazons, 

 such as the White-fronted and Finsch's, which only measure twelve 

 inches in length. 



To return to the Tellow-naped. It will readily be conceded that 

 from its appearance it takes high rank among its fellows; while as 

 regards its intellectual capabilities it will perhaps come next to the 

 Double-fronted, otherwise Le Vaillant's Amazon, which was figured 

 and described in the second volume of this work. It is certainly to 

 be regretted that so eminently desirable a Parrot, from the fancier's 

 point of view at all events, should be of such rare occurrence in the 

 bird market; and we may advise our readers to secure every specimen 

 of the Tellow-naped they may chance to come across. 



It is decidedly hardy, even when first brought over, and with the 

 commonest care will survive in captivity for a great many years. Cases 

 are recorded where it has attained to quite a patriarchal age, and been 

 handed down from one generation to another, like an heirloom. 



The food should consist of maize, boiled and raw, hemp seed, oats, 

 a few nuts, and in summer a little ripe fruit; but meal, or animal 



