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The Black Parrot from Madagalcar. 
T his Bird is about the Bignefs of the A(h-colour’d Parrot with 
a red Tail, or a Tame Pigeon, The Bill is fhort and thick at the 
Balls, bending downward as an Arch, the lower Mandible bending in the 
lame manner upwards ; the upper Mandible over-hangs the lower a 
little, but much lefs than I have obferved it in fome other Parrots ^ 
The Balls of the upper Mandible is covered with a bare Skin, in which 
are dtuate the Noftrils, pretty high and near each other ; both the Bill 
and the Skin that covers it, were white, or light, yellowilh, Flelli-colour; 
the Eyes had dark Irides, and a Space of bare white Skin round them^ 
The Head and whole Body, both upper and under Side, is of a black 
or very dark, dirty, bluilh Colour, like the Colour of Pigeons^ which, 
we call Black Pigeo?'iSy not like the Black of Crows : The upper Side of 
the Wings is lighter, being only of a dark, Alli-colour; amongft the 
Quill-feathers are intermixed three or four white Feathers in each Wing - 
the Feathers of the Wings are pretty long ; the Tail is very long, for one 
whole Tail-feathers are of equal Length as this is, they having generally 
very fhort Tails y that kind of ParrotSy whole Tail-feathers are of un- 
equal Lengths, are as remarkable for very long Tails ; . the Legs are very 
fhort, and the Toes fituate two backward and two forward, as in all 
the P arrotAdnd ; they are cover’d with a rough, fcaley Skin, of a dirty 
Flefh-colour ; the Claws are ftrong, crooked and black, 
^ This Bird wasfirfl: Sir Charles Wagerhy and wasprefented by him to 
his Grace the Duke of Richmondy who employ’d me to make a Draught 
of it for him, and permitted me to take another for myfelf. It was a 
very gentle Bird, always choofing to be on the Hand, and when taken on 
the Hand, it would often repeat the Ad of Treading, which makes me 
think it was a Cock-Bird, I believe it hath not yet been defcribed. 
riot 
C 
