Psittacus Guianensis, LINNÆUS; La Perruche Pavouane, BUFFON;
Der Guianische Sittich, BECHSTEIN.
This species is only twelve inches in length, including the tail, which
measures six and a quarter, and has the two centre feathers three inches
longer than the others. The upper part of the body is dark green, the
under lighter. The cheeks are not spotted with bright red till the third
year.
OBSERVATIONS.--It is a native of Guiana, Cayenne, and the Caribbee
Islands. Bird-sellers in Germany are generally provided with them, as
they are not delicate or difficult to carry about. They must be
treated like the former species.
"This," says Buffon, "is, of all parrots from the new continent, the
most easily taught to speak; nevertheless it is only tractable in
this particular, for even after a long captivity it still preserves a
native wildness and ferocity, and is sometimes stubborn and
ill-humoured. But as it has a lively eye, is neatly and well formed,
it is admired for its shape."