PARRAQUETS. 
125 
in the same way. In time of danger the old birds defend their progeny vigorously, 
and should the enemy prove too strong to be successfully resisted by one, other 
parrots come up to their assistance, and, joining forces, either kill or put the 
aggressor to flight. The grey parrot delights to dwell in companies; many nests 
are found within a few feet of each other, and often in one tree two or more holes 
may be seen occupied by hatching pairs. The young birds are covered with a long 
and fluffy down, which afterwards, when moulting, falls off Their first plumage 
is darker, and the iris dark grey, instead of pale yellow. They leave the nest 
when about four weeks old, but may be seen looking outside the hole some time 
before they are able to fly.” In captivity this parrot is the best of talkers; and, 
did space permit, many interesting anecdotes might be quoted relative to this 
accomplishment. Contrary to what usually prevails among higher bipeds, the 
male is commonly the more voluble and fluent speaker of the two, although the 
female pronounces her words more distinctly. Like most parrots, this species 
attains a great age, and there seems no doubt that examples have been kept in 
captivity for periods of between sixty and eighty years. Whether, however, they 
have lived in this state for upwards of a century, as reported, seems doubtful. 
The anecdote of the old lady of eighty, who purchased a parrot with the view 
of testing by experiment the truth of such report, is probably well known to 
our readers. 
Vasa Parrots. 
Five peculiar parrots inhabiting Madagascar and certain neigh¬ 
bouring islands, constitute a genus easily recognised by their black 
or blackish brown plumage, which gives them at a distance somewhat the 
appearance of crows. The region round the eye is naked, the lore also partially 
bare, and the whitish bill somewhat thickened and swollen. The greater vasa 
(.Coracopsis vasa ) attains a length of about 20 inches. Although common in their 
native islands, very little is known of the habits of these parrots in the wild state. 
The few that are brought to Europe are readily tamed, and soon learn to talk. 
New Guinea This species (Dasypterus perqueti) is distinguished from its 
Black Parrot. Malagasy allies by its longer and shallower beak, and the larger 
amount of bare skin on the sides of the face. The general sable hue- is relieved 
by a red band on either side of the back of the head; while the under wing-coverts 
are likewise red. 
The Parraquet Group. 
Subfamily IGlaorxitiiina:. 
The true parraquets, together with the love-birds and certain other allied 
forms, constitute a fifth subfamily, confined to the Eastern Hemisphere, but exceed¬ 
ingly difficult to define from external characters. All of them differ, however, from 
the members of the foregoing groups, except the pigmy parrots, by certain 
peculiarities connected with the course of the carotid arteries. As a rule, the 
females are markedly distinct from the males, which, with the exception of the 
parrotlets, is not the case in the preceding groups; the tail-feathers are frequently 
pointed : and the sides of the head are either completely feathered, or only naked 
just round the eyes. The bill is often very strong, and frequently, especially its 
