HISTORY OF MEXICO. 



73 



in Mexico, four principal fpecies, namely, the Huacamaya, 

 the Toznenetl^ the Cochotl^ and the ^iltoiotl (fj. 



The Huacamaya, the largefl: of all the parrots, is more 

 valuable for its beautiful feathers than for its fpeaking. 

 It articulates words indiftin^lly, and its voice is harfli 

 and difiigreeable. The Toznencti, which is the beft of 

 them all, is about the fize of a pigeon ; its feathers are of 

 a green colour, except upon the head, and fore-part of 

 the wings, which in fome of them are red, and in others 

 yellow. It learns any words or tune, and imitates them 

 faithfully. It naturally imitates the laugh of a man, or 

 other ridiculous found, the cries of children, and the va- 

 rious noifes of different animals. There are three fpecies 

 of the Cochotl differing from each other in fize and plu- 

 mage, which in them all is beautiful ; and the prevailing 

 colour is green. The largefl of the Cochotls is nearly as 

 large as the Toznenetl : the two other fpecies, called by 

 the Spaniards, Caierine^ are fmaller. They all learn to 

 talk, though not fo perfectly as the Toznenetl. The 

 ^iltototl^ is the fmallefl kind of parrot, and the leafl va- 

 luable for fpeaking. Thcfe fmall parrots whofe plu- 

 mage is of the iTioft beautiful green, fly always in large 

 flocks, fometimss making a great noife in the air ; and at 

 Other times committing havoc among the grain. When 

 perched upon the trees they can hardly be diflinguifhed, 

 by their colour from the leaves. AH the other parrots 

 go generally in pairs, a male and female. 



The 



(/) The Toznenetl and Cochotl, are called by the Mexican Spaniards, Peri- 

 xos and Loros. The word Huacamaya is from the Haitinian language which 

 was fpol^en in Hlfpaniola. Zoro, is from the Quichoan or Incan, and Toz«f- 

 netl, CochotU and ^iltototl from the Mexican. 



Vol. I. K 



