Psittacus Amazonius - Auctorum.

Psittacus Amazonius, Briss. Av. 4. p. 256 - Wagler, Man. Psitt. in Abhand. etc. p. 496. and 588 - Spix. Av. Bras. p. 45 - Le Peroquet Amazone, Buff. PL Enl. 547. - Aouru Parrot, Shaw's Zool. 8. p. 508. pl. 76.

The true Amazons' Parrot has so frequently been confounded and mixed up with other nearly allied species, that a description of it may not be unacceptable to our readers, especially as it is a kind frequently brought to Europe, on account of its colloquial powers, and known, like others of its congener8, by the common appellation of Green Parrot. In dimensions it is inferior to the Festive Parrot, its length seldom exceeding twelve inches: the bill is less powerful, but similar in form, its colour orange-yellow, with a whitish tip. The cheeks, chin, and angles at the base of the bill are yellow; the forehead and eye-streak violet-purple, the bases of the feathers being yellow: the occiput and hind-neck are green, each feather edged with black. The rest of the upper and under plumage is of a fine green. The four lateral tail-feathers nearest the two middle ones have their outer webs green, verging to yellow at the base and apex; the inner webs yellow, with a large central red spot, intersected by a transverse green one: the fifth and sixth have the basal half of the outer webs green, the remainder yellow; the inner webs with their bases and tips yellow, the middle part being green: the next is distinguished by a pale red spot; and the remainder have their bases green, which passes into yellow near the tips. The margin of the carpus or lower ridge of the wing is frequently of an orange-red. The first primary quill is black above: beneath, the inner web exhibits at the base a rich tinge of verdigris-green, the second, third, and fourth, have their exterior webs green, with azure reflections; the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, are green from the base to the middle, the other part being deep azure blue, the inner webs black; the ninth to the twelfth greenish near the base, passing forwards into brownish-red, which, near the ends of the feathers, becomes of a deep blue : the under surface of all the quills is of a copper or verdigris-green colour. This bird inhabits South America, being common in Guiana and Brazil, particularly near the banks of the river Amazons. It feeds upon fruits, particularly that of the Rhizo-phora Mangle, in the decayed trunks of which trees it also deposits its eggs. It is also very destructive to the orange plantations. It is easily tamed, and learns to repeat with facility a number of words and short sentences. When alarmed or excited, it erects the nuchal feathers.