14 
THE PARROT TRIBES. 
There is another variety of cardinal with a red head and a 
light bine back ; and still another, whose cranium is of the 
colour of peach blossom, the body green and yellow, and the 
tail spangled with snowy white dots. Unfortunately, however, 
the appearance of all the cardinals is their chief recommendation. 
They are timid, chilly, and but indifferent linguists. 
The Illinois Parrot. — This pretty creature is, as a rule, 
about the size of the grey parrot, or perhaps a trifle larger. 
It rarely becomes a good talker, but is such a good tempered, 
sociable bird, that it is sure to become a favourite wherever it is 
domiciled. The prevailing colour of the Illinois parrot is 
gold green, the forehead, cheeks, and throat being of a brilliant 
orange. Round the eyes of the bird is a bald grey -tinted skin, 
and the iris is of a fine orange. The bill is almost white. The 
female may be known from the male by having on her fore- 
head a patch of yellow. 
The Moreton Bay Parrot. — This magnificent little bird 
may be ranked among the most valuable of parrots. It is so 
scarce in this country that very little is known of its imitative 
capacity, but in appearance it is unsurpassed, being one blaze 
of dazzling flame colour. It subsists chiefly on the nectarine 
juice, and pollen extracted from flowers and blossoms. Mr. 
Gould says, “ However graphically it might be described, I 
scarcely believe it possible to convey an idea of a forest of flowering 
gums tenanted by various species of these birds. The incessant 
din produced by their thousand voices, and the screaming notes 
they emit when a flock of either species simultaneously leave 
the trees for some other part of the forest, baffles all description, 
and must be seen and heard to be fully comprehended. So 
intent are they for some time after sunrise upon extracting 
their honey -food, that they are not easily alarmed, or made to 
quit the trees on which they are feeding. The report of a gun 
discharged immediately beneath them has no other effect than 
to elicit an extra scream, or cause them to move to a neigh- 
bouring branch, where they again recommence, with all the 
avidity possible, creeping among the leaves, and clinging to the 
branches in every variety of position. During one of my morn- 
ing rambles I came suddenly upon an immense Eucalyptus 
(gum-tree) which was at least two hundred feet high. The 
blossoms of this noble tree had attracted hundreds of birds, 
both parrots and honey-suckers, and from a single branch 
I killed four different species.” 
The Blue -mountain Parrot. — T his bird, called by the 
