Psittacus solstitialis, AuctoRum. Synonyms: Conurus solstitialis, Gr., Bp., etc.; Conurus aurantius, Mll.;

Psittacus gouaruba, Spx.

GERMAN: Der orangegelbe Keilschwanzsittich oder Sonnensittich, Rss.

French: Perruche-soleil, Rousse, Para, etc.

UNDOUBTEDLY one of the most magnificent of the many beautiful Parrots of America," writes Dr. Russ of this bird in his Fremdländischen Stubenvögel, page 254, and we cordially agree with the remark; but when he goes on to describe the colour as lemon yellow, he is not quite correct, for it is more like ochre with dashes of crimson. The flight feathers are green, and the wing coverts also; but these birds vary immensely in appearance; and, in point of fact, no two of them are to be met with that are exactly alike.

They are noisy birds, like all the Conures, painfully noisy at times; and their voices are extremely piercing and shrill; but they get very tame, and learn to speak a little.

Without great attention they will turn and tear out their own feathers sooner or later, and that notwithstanding their being well supplied with wood upon which to exercise their sharp beaks. We recently saw one that had stripped itself of every feather it could reach, excepting the large quills of the wings and tail; but after awhile it began to eat those also; and though it did not pluck them out, it gnawed them down to the quick, and at last died miserably from cold, although retaining its appetite and embonpoint to the last. Everything that could be thought of had been tried to cure it of the distressful habit, but in vain; its passion for self-mutilation seemed to increase by what through catching cold. M. Rousse speaks thus of its capacity for outdoor life in France: - "Elle (la Perruche soleil) réclame quelques précautions pendant les premiers hivers."

Should we succeed in getting a cheap pair, we shall certainly turn them out into an enclosure by themselves, and there let them take their chance; but while the price remains as high as it is at present (1887), that is, from two to three pounds a piece, we do not care to run any risk of losing them.

The Sun Parrakeet, or Yellow Conure, is a native of the northeastern parts of South America, from the Amazon river to Guiana. It also occurs in Venezuela, where the natives term it Kessi-Kessi, from its cry. It is a great favourite with them, according to Richard Schomburgk, and may be seen in the villages to the number of thirty or forty in a flock; breeding in holes in the surrounding trees.

The young have more red in their plumage, and the wing coverts, as well as the primaries, are green. They change slowly, and do not entirely assume the adult plumage until they are three years old; which would, no doubt, in a great measure account for the immense diversity of colouring they present.

Though cruel, like all their congeners, to other birds with which they are involuntarily compelled to associate, they are very affectionate among themselves, and dress and preen each other's heads incessantly; only ceasing now and then to feed at the seed-pan, or to disgorge into each other's beaks the half-digested food of which they had partaken. It is curious, that not only the male and female will thus caress each other, but two males, or two females, will conduct themselves in exactly the same manner; and so lead any one unacquainted with them to suppose that they were a veritable pair.

There is no perceptible difference, at least outwardly, between the sexes; but the young, as we have said, differ considerably from their parents.

We have met with no account of the Sun Parrakeets having bred in this country, or indeed anywhere, in captivity; and should think that no case of reproduction has yet taken place.

Herr Schomburgk relates that the eggs of this species are about the size of those of the Turtle Dove, and are round and smooth. "No more recent account," laments Dr. Russ in this place, "is unhappily available."

The Hon. And Rev. F. G. Dutton's Account Of The Yellow Conure (Conurus Solstitialis)

The Yellow Conure is not so rare in England as it appears from Dr. Russ to be in Germany, though it is not a common bird. It is the handsomest Conure with which I am acquainted. I kept four once all at the same time. But their sole attraction was their beauty. Like the White-eared Conures, they were restless and noisy, and by no means tame. Dr. Russ gives, I think, too light a shade when he says the yellow of the birds is lemon-yellow. Indian yellow mixed with crimson is the colour. No two of my four were coloured alike. I daresay if they were reared by hand they might prove attractive. Probably the main reason why writers differ so much in describing the same Parrot is that one has come across a bird reared by hand, and the other has only come across a specimen caught old. But I must say that up to the present time the Conures as a race have not impressed me favourably. The Golden Conure (C. luteus) seems an exception; but it is hardly like a Conure, it is so different in its build. C. solstitial is are worth about £2 each.