Walter Goodfellow—Some Beminiscences of a Collector 343


that they looked like birds modelled in plaster of Paris and artificially

coloured. A pair of Grey-headed Parrots, P. seriloides, concluded this

group, most of which I had reared by hand from the nest. They all

knew their names and each one had a very distinct personality.

Whenever I sat down in the corridor or the kitchen they swarmed all

over me, each one trying to get a favoured position. One of the Blue¬

headed ones called “ Verdecita ” I had bought from a woman at the

door, not that I wanted it, but it was so loving and adopted me at once,

I simply had not the heart to send it away. This turned out to be one

of the most marvellous mimics I have ever known, and repeated the

scandal and laughter of some garrulous old women, one of which after

using a certain expression always went off into a fit of asthmatical

coughing. It was all so real one seemed to get to know the different

people and could easily picture them with heads together talking

scandal. This bird unfortunately met with a sad end on the coast.

I had a tame tayra shut up in a room, and going in one day I was

unaware that the parrot was following me, and the tayra rushed out

and had it in its jaws before I knew exactly what had happened.

I missed this fussy little person perhaps more than if it had been all

the others put together. I think it was my favourite, and I still have

a few of its feathers. There was “ Chiquita ” another of the same kind

and only a little less accomplished ; and “ Toni ”, not a talker but

a very droll bird. I think this is one of the most delightful of all parrots

to keep, if hand-reared, especially for a lady or an invalid, as they are

not a bit noisy and so docile and affectionate. To such I have often

recommended them since. A woman also brought to the door a Lesson’s

Amazon, A. lilacina, to sell. I already had one and so again I was

disinclined to buy at first as I had so many parrots, but it came to my

hand at once and in such a hurry as if glad to escape from its owner ;

I thought it must have been ill-treated, so I succumbed again. It crowed

like a rooster and imitated many farmyard sounds. Two Red-faced

Conures were the naughty boys of the party and up to all manner of

mischief and were called the “ Cossacks ”. These and the Grey-headed

had full wings, so when the corridor windows were open they had to

be shut up in the kitchen. The Grey-heads I had reared from the nest

and they had always slept in a basket with two Black-capped Caiques.



