The AMAZON PARROT (_Chrysotis Amazonicus_) is of a brilliant green
colour, sky blue on the brow and top of the head, yellow on its cheeks
and throat, and red on the shoulders; the side tail-feathers are
blood-red beneath, the beak deep horn grey, the cere blackish, the feet
ash grey, powdered with white, and the iris externally bordered with
orange, and internally with pale yellow. The Green parrot (_Chrysotis
æstivus_), on the contrary, has its forehead and cheek stripes of a sky
blue colour. The shoulders are green, and the red side-feathers of the
tail edged with green.
From the observations made by the Prince von Wied, Speke, Schomburghk,
and Burmeister, we learn that both kinds are widely spread over South
America.
The Amazon parrot avoids the forests near the coast, but frequents the
woods and bushes of the higher lands, while the Green parrot prefers the
primitive forests. Both kinds are much alike in their habits and mode
of life. Early in the morning they leave their roosting-places, and fly
screaming through the air, beating violently with their wings, until they
reach the woods or plantations where they can find fruit; at noon they
rest, after which they set out in search of food; and in the evening,
except in breeding time, assemble in great numbers, making a terrible
noise until a roosting-place is found for the night.
The Prince von Wied gives the following account of the Green parrot,
which is called the Kuriche by the Brazilians:--"In all the eastern
coasts of Brazil that I travelled through this bird was very common; I
found it in numbers wherever there were thick forests, and on the borders
of mango swamps at the mouths of rivers; it breeds equally well in all
such places, but seems to prefer localities where it can obtain the fruit
of the mango. Great flocks inhabit the wooded country around Rio de
Janeiro, Parahiba, Espirito Santo, and Belmonte, and their loud voices
may be heard morning and evening in the bushes of the bog-like country,
which is watered by the floods from the rivers. These bushes stand in the
same relation to the Brazilian rivers as willows do to European streams;
but the trees are higher, and the parrots can often make their homes on
their strong stems or branches. In the breeding season they usually fly
up into the air in pairs, calling and screaming loudly, but except at
that time are met with in very numerous flocks. We ourselves have seen
such enormous swarms of short-tailed parrots in the Mucuri forests and
other places, that the whole woodland was filled with their extraordinary
cry. On these occasions many different species seemed to be combined in
one flock; their united screams were deafening, and as one party drove
another from the trees, excitement gave new vigour to their shrieks.
Should they alight upon a lofty, thickly-foliaged tree, it is often
very difficult to see them, as their green hue is a great protection,
and their presence is only indicated by the fall of the shells and
stones of the fruit they devour. Whilst eating they remain quiet, but if
alarmed will utter loud cries. They are shot in great numbers, as they
are excellent food, and the soup made from their flesh is much esteemed
both in Brazil and Surinam. These parrots lay two white eggs in holes of
trees, upon a bed of shreds of wood, chipped out in preparing the nest;
they breed but once in the year, and that in the spring time of their
native land.
[Illustration: THE AMAZON PARROT (_Chrysotis Amazonicus_).]
"The young, if taken from the nest, are soon tamed, and learn to speak
distinctly; on this account they are frequently found in the Brazilian
houses, and are brought in great numbers into the towns, and sold to
sailors, who bring them to Europe; they do not learn to speak so readily
as the grey parrot, but prove teachable, tolerably gentle, and amiable
towards those that feed them."
* * * * *
Under the generic name of PIONUS, Wagner unites many small parrots, which
we will call the BLUNT-TAILED PARROTS. Their bodies are compact, the tail
very short, the wings on the contrary being slender, pointed, and so long
that they reach at least as far as the middle of the tail; the beak is
compressed at the sides, and the upper mandible generally terminates in a
long pointed hook. The legs are strong and powerful, the plumage usually
harsh, and the feathers cordiform and particularly small. Those on the
head and neck are thick and strikingly coloured. We are familiar with
many varieties of these birds, most of them from South America, and with
others from Africa, which have lately been placed in a different tribe.
[Illustration: THE MAITAKKA (_Pionus menstruus_).]