Brotogerys, Vgrs.

Distinguishing Marks - Description - Natural History - Character in Confinement.

Anyone who has kept these little parrots - which are about the size of a finch or a thrush - and knows them thoroughly, will probably wonder why the ornithologist, Vigors, gave them a Greek name signifying "gifted with human voice." Several species certainly have proved themselves capable of pronouncing words, but their talent in this respect is so very small that they can only be allowed the lowest position among the feathered speakers. On the other hand, they are mostly prettily coloured, attractive in their appearance, and amusing in their habits; they become exceedingly tame and familiar, though never really affectionate and gentle, and always remain uncommonly disagreeable screamers.

Finsch gives the following as their distinguishing marks: Beak, rather long, slender, much compressed at the sides, with a sharp ridge, long, thin, sharply bent downwards at the point, and with a deep indentation; the tongue thick, fleshy, blunt pointed; the nostrils, round and uncovered, set in broad un-feathered cere; the lores feathered; the eye cere bare; the wings long and pointed; the tail wedge-shaped, all feathers rounded at the point; the feet rather slender, with a short leg; the plumage soft and full. Both sexes are said to be alike in colour. They are natives of South America throughout its whole extent, and some varieties also of Central America.

We have but little knowledge of their mode of life in freedom. They live gregariously and are of amiable disposition. It is not known whether, like their before-mentioned congeners, they build their nests together in numerous couples, but it is very unlikely. Their movements are in a degree clumsy; they fly rapidly, but not skilfully, climb rather awkwardly, and trip clumsily on the ground. They are said to live on all kinds of seeds, fruits, berries, and other vegetable substances, and often to do great damage to the crops of maize, rice, fruit, etc. The nest stands, as is the case with other parrots, in a hollow of a tree, and the brood consists of from two to four.

Like some other parrots, also, they are much esteemed in their native country as cage birds, yet they are hardly so frequently taken from the nest and reared by hand as are the larger species, but are more often caught when old. Owing to their amiability and trustful boldness, this is astonishingly simple. With a bird which can be used as a decoy it is easy to catch a whole flock by means of a horse-hair snare attached to a stick, or with a twig smeared with birdlime. They do not appear shy, even at the outset, like other birds, and though at first a little frightened, yet soon become bold, and even impudent, for they unite to attack the hand that feeds them, as if it were that of an enemy. Nodding their heads and with raised wings, uttering piercing cries, they appear very quarrelsome, and at the same time very comical, but at the least threat fly terrified into a corner. They nestle closely together in the most loving manner, whether they are a pair or two of the same sex. All their arrangements as to eating, drinking, flapping the wings, or sudden burst of chattering are carried on simultaneously. In Brazil they are kept with clipped wings, chained upon a stand, fitted up with a horizontal perch, and a sliding box for rest at night. We, on the contrary, keep them as a rule by couples in a cage; but they must be kept either by themselves, or with large peaceable parrots, for they are extremely vicious towards smaller companions. For diet they chiefly need seeds, hemp, and oats, with a slight addition of sweet fruit and biscuit, or moistened egg-bread; but the majority of them entirely refuse to take the two last named. They are very healthy and hardy, and can be kept without trouble for many years, only that cold and damp must be carefully guarded against. It is true that one species, the largest, has already been kept through the winter in the open air, but I must warn the reader against this course in the case of any of the smaller varieties. Up to the present time eight species have been imported alive, but only one may be reckoned common in the market. Although, as before remarked, they are mostly kept in couples, yet only one single Small-billed Parrakeet has been bred in captivity. The rarer species fetch a rather high price. I shall, of course, only speak here of those which have already been proved to be speakers.