^78 SCANSOUES. BIRDS. BsITTACID/E. 
let; the four middle feathers of the tail are entirely 
another African species, is migratory in its habits. 
green, the rest, from the inner web, yellow, except at 
passing to the region of the tropics during the rainy 
the extremity. 
season, and advancing in the summer as far south as 
THE OKAHGE-WIHGED LORIKEET {Triclioglossus 
the region of the Cape of Good Hope. It is about the 
injrrhojtterus) is a smaller species than any of the pre- 
same size as the Gray Parrot, and tlie general colour of 
ceding Lories, measuring only seven inches and a half 
its plumage is olive-green in various shades ; the rump. 
in length. It has the head of a delicate greenish-blue 
belly, and tail-coverts are bright green ; the bend of 
colour, the neck grayish-white, and the rest of the 
the wing is marked with bright orange-red ; the wings 
plumage green, with the exception of the under wing- 
themselves are brownish-black, with a greenish gloss. 
coverts, w’hich are of a rich orange colour. It is an 
and with green borders to the coverts and scapulars ; 
inhabitant of the Sandwich Islands. 
the tail-feathers are of the same colour as those of the 
THE GRAY PARROT [Psittacus erytliacMs) — Plate 15, 
wings. 
fig. 51. — The common Gray Parrot, being one of the 
THE GREEN PARROT {Chrysotis amazonicus), which 
species most frequently kept in this country, must he 
is even a more common bird in this country than the 
familiar to all our readers. It is an inhabitant of tro- 
Gray Parrot, is an iidiabitant of the forests of tropical 
j>ical Africa, where it dw'ells in the woods, feeds upon 
America, where it occurs, with other allied species, in 
seeds and the kernels of fruits, and breeds in the holes 
immense numbers. It is a little larger than the Gray 
of decayed trees, laying about four white eggs. -In 
Parrot, and its plumage is of a fine grass-green colour. 
confinement, and jirohahly also in a state of nature, it 
with the edges of each feather dusky ; the forehead is 
generally holds its food in one of its feet, and then bites 
bluish, and the head and throat yellowish; the spurious 
pieces from it. The strength of its bill enables it readily 
wing is red, atid the wings and tail more or less varie- 
to break the shells of nuts and almonds, so as to get at 
gated with green, black, red, and yellow. This species 
their sweet kernels. 
appears to be liable to considerable variation. It is 
As a pet this parrot is a great favourite, and de- 
tolerably docile, and learns to speak pretty readily, but 
servedly so, as its docility and intelligence render it 
is generally inferior in both these respects to the African 
very amusing. It learns to speak with greater facility 
Gray Parrot. This species and its allies are especially 
and distinctness than perhaps any other bird, and it is 
abundant in the rich forests along the course of the 
no uncommon thing to hear of parrots which will repeat 
great rivers of South America. They not unfrequently 
sentences as long as the Lord’s prayer. It also readily 
descend upon plantations situated in the vicinity of 
picks up any w'ords which are of frequent occurrence in 
their haunts, and do great mischief. 
the household, and sometimes brings out its acquisitions 
THE FESTIVE {Chrysotis festivus) is another 
in the most amusing manner, frequently repeating cer- 
of these South American species. It is still larger than 
tain jdirases in the ])resence of those for whose ears they 
the common Green Parrot, measuring fifteen or sixteen 
were not intended. Town parrots also commonly imitate 
inches in length ; its colour is green, with the hinder 
street-noises, and an instance of this related by Mr. 
part of the crown of the head blue, a streak of red 
Selby may he mentioned, as showing the mischief to 
running from each nostril to the eye, the lower part of 
w'hieh such a habit may unintentionally give rise. A 
the back, rump, and upper tail-coverts scarlet, and the 
parrot kept upon a quay in a sea-port towm had learnt 
quill-feathers of the wings deep blue. 
to give in perfection the ejaculatory words commonly 
THE LOVE-BIRD {Ayapornis Swinderkmd). — Several 
used by carters to make their horses back into any 
charming diminutive species of this family nearly allied 
required position ; one day the bird was amusing himself 
to the preceding, are commonly known as Love-hirds, 
by repeating this among other things, and did it so 
from their being usually seen sitting as closely us 
naturally t'lat a horse standing close by unattended in 
possible to each other, and occasionally billing in the 
a cart, immediately obeyed the command, and probably 
most aftectionate manner. In captivity they are 
incited by the reiterated shouts of the parrot, continued 
generally kept in pairs, when they exhibit the greatest 
his retrograde movement so long that he fell over the 
apparent fondness for each other, and it is a common 
quay and was drowned. 
belief, probably well founded, that if one should die. 
We shall not dwell upon any of the numerous anec- 
the other will pine away with grief at the loss of its 
dotes commonly' related of this bird, hut will conclude 
companion. 
our short description with Le Vaillant’s account of one 
The present species, which is a native of Southern 
which lived to the patriarchal age of ninetv-three. In 
Africa, is one of the smallest of its tribe, measuring 
his best days this parrot had been distinguished for his 
only five inches in length. Its colour is a delicate but 
jiowers of conversation, and he was so remarkably 
lively green; round the back of the neck there is a 
docile that he w'ould perform many little acts when 
black collar, and beneath this a yellow hand, which 
ordered to do so, such as fetching his master’s slippers, 
encircles the neck, and expands considerably on the 
calling the servants, and the like. AVhen he reached 
breast; the short tail has the two middle feathers green. 
the ripe age of sixty, he began to lose his memory, and 
and the remainder scarlet at the base and green at the 
would confuse and jumble together different fragments 
tip, the two colours being separated by a black band. 
of his former learning; fro.m this time his infirmities 
THE BONNETED PSITTACULE {Psiltacula pileata ) — 
went on increasing, until in his last days he became 
Plate 15, fig. 52 — another of the small species of 
perfectly decre()id, and was only kept alive by being 
short-tailed parrots, is an inhabitant of South America, 
fed at intervals with biscuit soaked in Madeira. 
where it appears to be a bird of passage. It is rather 
LE VAILLANT’S PARROT {Psittucus Lc Vailkmtii), 
iiiore than eight inches in length, and of a green colour. 
• 
