Psittacus murinus, LINNÆUS; La Perruche à poitrine grise,
BUFFON; Der grünbrustige Sittich, BECHSTEIN.
This pretty parrot, distinguished by its silvery grey colour, is about
the size of a turtle-dove. Its ruffling the feathers of its head,
particularly on the cheeks, added to the smallness and peculiar way in
which it holds its bill, which is always buried in its breast, gives it
somewhat the appearance of a small screech owl. Its length is ten
inches, of which the wedge-shaped tail measures half. The beak is
three-quarters of an inch in length, pearl grey, or whitish. The
forehead, to about the middle of the top of the head, the cheeks,
throat, breast, and half the belly are of a light silvery grey, with
shades appearing like grey stripes; the upper part of the body and tail
are of a brilliant siskin green.
OBSERVATIONS.--This species is very mild, speaks but little, and even
seems to be of a melancholy turn. Its call, which is "_keirshe_," is
loud and sonorous. It is the same species which is mentioned in the
Travels of Bougainville, by Pernetty. "We found it," says he, "at
Montevideo, where our sailors bought several at two piastres a-piece.
These birds were very tame and harmless; they soon learnt to speak,
and became so fond of the men that they were never easy when away
from them." The general opinion is, that they will not live more than
a year and a half if kept in a cage; this prejudice is completely
refuted by the bird from which this description is taken, and which
may be seen in the collection of his Highness the Duke of Saxe
Meiningen.