126 
ASH-COLOURED OR GREY PARROT. 
Psittacus erythacus Linnjjus. 
PLATE X. 
Psittacus erythacus, Linn. Syst. Nat. el Auct Psittacus 
Guianensis cinereus, Bris. t. pi. 310. No. 49 Peroquet 
cemlre (U‘ Guinee, Buff. PI. Enl. 311. — Ash-coloured Par- 
rot, Shaw's Zool. 8. pi. 486. 
Many of our readers will recognise an old and 
amusing acquaintance in the characteristic figure of 
this well-known species, not, indeed, conspicuous for 
that brilliancy and variety of plumage which distin- 
guishes the great majority of the tribe, hut remark- 
able for its docility and mimicry, the faculty it pos- 
sesses of imitating the human voice, as well as any 
other sound, its never-ceasing garrulity, and its clear 
and distinct articulation. In most of these particu- 
lars, it surpasses the rest of its congeners, on which 
account it has always been held in high estimation 
by the bird-fancier and lover of living curiosities. 
This we learn from the large sums that have at all 
times been offered and given for highly-gifted or 
well taught individuals. Even as early as A. U. 
1500, we read of a Parrot at Rome, supposed to be 
of this species, for which 100 gold pieces were given 
