Psittacus erythacus. - Linnaeus.

Psittacus erythacus, Linn, Syst. Nat. et Auct. - Psittacus Guianensis cinereus, Bris. t. pl. 310. No. 49 - Peroquet cendre de Guinee, Buff. PL Enl. 311. - Ash-coloured Parrot, Shaw's Zool. 8. pl. 486.

Many of our readers will recognise an old and amusing acquaintance in the characteristic figure of this well-known species, not, indeed, conspicuous for that brilliancy and variety of plumage which distinguishes the great majority of the tribe, but remarkable for its docility and mimicry, the faculty it possesses of imitating the human voice, as well as any other sound, its never-ceasing garrulity, and its clear and distinct articulation. In most of these particulars, it surpasses the rest of its congeners, on which account it has always been held in high estimation by the bird-fancier and lover of living curiosities. This we learn from the large sums that have at all times been offered and given for highly-gifted or well taught individuals. Even as early as A. D. 1500, we read of a Parrot at Rome, supposed to be of this species, for which 100 gold pieces were given by a Cardinal. Its merits, however, appear to have been of a kind well calculated at that period to create an unusual degree of astonishment, and a feeling of the marvellous, as it had learned to repeat with clearness, and without hesitation, the whole of the Apostles' creed. Willughby, also, in his old and excellent work on Ornithology, mentions the high prices brought by Parrots of various species in Holland, and other parts of the Continent. To enumerate the various anecdotes related of this bird, would not only occupy more space than the nature of our work will allow, but would, in a great measure, be only repeating what has already so frequently been told in the works and compilations of other writers. We shall only observe, that, in many of the marvellous stories recorded of Parrots, particularly all such as relate to answers seemingly appropriate and consequent to questions put to them, and which some authors would almost seem to imply were dictated by intelligence, or that the birds really understood the import of what was asked, are merely the result, under accidental and fortunate circumstances, of what had previously been taught them by frequent repetition, to articulate by rote.

Plate 10. Psittacus Erythacus.

E. Lear del.

Ash-Coloured or Grey Parrot.

Native of W. Africa.

Lizars sc.

The imitative propensity of the Parrot, amusing as it in general may be, is, however, sometimes to be guarded against, and productive of untoward accidents, as the following instance related to us will shew. A Parrot which was kept upon a quay in a sea-port town, had learned the term, with its appropriate enunciation, used by carters in backing, that is, making the horse, by a retrograde motion, place the cart or waggon in the most convenient station for loading or unloading. This term the bird one day made use of, when a cart and horse had imprudently been left unattended for a short time, and the horse, obeying the mandate of the bird, continued to keep moving backwards, till both were precipitated over the quay, and the unfortunate animal was drowned.

The Grey Parrot is a native of western Africa, from whence it appears to have been imported to a very early period; but common and well known as it is in a state of captivity, its peculiar habits and economy in a state of nature are still but little and imperfectly known. Like most of its kind, it is said to breed in the hollows of decayed trees; and the instinctive propensity for such situations does not appear to desert it even in a state of captivity; for Buffon mentions a pair in France, that, for five or six years successively, produced and brought up their young, and that the place they selected for this purpose was a cask partly filled with saw-dust. Its eggs are stated to be generally four in number, their colour white, and in size equal to those of a pigeon. In its native state, the food of the Parrot consists of the kernels of various fruits, and the seeds of other vegetables; but when domesticated, or kept caged, its principal diet is generally bread and milk, varied with nuts, almonds, etc, and even pieces of dressed meat. When feeding, it often holds its food clasped in the foot, and, before swallowing, masticates or reduces it to small pieces by its powerful bill and palatial cutters. This member, so unlike that of other frugivorous birds, is admirably calculated for the principal offices it has to perform, viz. breaking the shells of the hardest fruits and seeds, and as a strong and powerful organ of prehension and support ; for few of our readers but must have observed that the bill is always first used, and chiefly depended upon when a Parrot is caged, in climbing or moving from one position to another. The longevity of the feathered race, we believe, in general far exceeds what is commonly supposed, at least if we may judge from the age attained by various birds, even when subjected to captivity and confinement. Thus, we have instances of eagles living for half a century: the same of ravens, geese, and other large birds, as well as among the smaller kinds usually kept caged. The Parrot appears to yield to none of these, and several instances are upon record of their having reached the remarkable age of sixty or seventy years. Among these, none is more interesting than that of an individual mentioned by M. Le Vaillant, which had lived in a state of domesticity for no less than ninety-three years. At the time that eminent naturalist saw it, it was in a state of entire decrepitude, and in a kind of lethargic condition, its sight and memory being both gone, and was fed at intervals with biscuit soaked in Madeira wine. In the time of its youth and vigour it had been distinguished for its colloquial powers, and distinct enunciation, and was of so docile and obedient a disposition, as to fetch its master's slippers when required, as well as to call the servants, etc. At the age of sixty, its memory began to fail, and, instead of acquiring any new phrase, it began to lose those it had before attained, and to intermix, in a discordant manner, the words of its former language. It moulted regularly every year till the age of sixty-five, when this process grew irregular, and the tail became yellow, after which, no farther change of plumage took place. It is subject to variety, as shewn in the figure of Edwards, where the ground colour is mixed with red. In size it measures about 12 inches in length. The bill is black, strong, and much hooked, and the orbits, and space between them and the eyes, covered with a naked and white skin The whole of the plumage, with the exception of the tail, which is of a bright deep scarlet, is of an ash-grey colour, deepest upon the back, and the feathers finely relieved and margined with paler grey. The irides are of a pale yellowish-white, the feet and toes grey, tinged with flesh-red.

The limited number of engravings not admitting of a figure illustrative of every group, we can only -emedy the deficiency by a description of such species as are remarkable, or typical of their respective genera. The Short and Even-tailed Parrots, as previously observed, have been divided by Wagler into several generic heads; but whether all of these will stand the test of such a separation, or are only to be regarded as slightly aberrant forms of the genus Psittacus, must depend upon a strict analysis of all the species. We shall, however, here consider them as forming distinct groups, detailing the principal characters of each as given by that eminent naturalist. The first is that of Eclectus, represented by the Eclectics Linncai, 'Wagler, and Ec. grandis, Wagler (the Psittacus grandis of Latham, &c), which differ from his restricted genus Psittacus in the form of the bill, the under mandible being narrower, the cere at the base scarcely visible, and the nostril placed farther back, and hidden by the feathers or the brow. The texture of the plumage upon the head and neck is also different, being long and silky. He considers them to represent the parrots of America, Africa, and Asia, and also to bring them nearer in connexion with the larger lories. The following is a description of the Grand Electus.