Palaeornis, Vgrs.

Distinguished for Form and Colour, for Talent in Speech, and for Breeding in Captivity - Description - Habitat - Varieties - Hardiness.

The Palaeornithinae, or, as they are called in Germany, the Noble Parrakeets, have become in several respects of great value to the amateur; indeed, they have been admired and highly esteemed from the most ancient times, on account of their special peculiarities. Their superiority lies in their pleasing form and beautiful colours, as well as in their eminent talent for speech, and intelligence in general; and, at the same time, in their unusually great aptitude for being tamed and trained; and to these qualities may be added the advantage that many species of the genus breed more freely in the aviary than any others.

While the Macaws, which belong also to the Long-tailed Parrots already described, cannot be classed exactly among true cage birds, the Palaeornithinae form, in the group of parrakeets proper - of which we are about to treat - the most prominent and, strictly speaking, the only family among whose members we meet with very talented talkers. They may, therefore, properly take precedence of the other species of parrakeets, which, indeed, are far behind them in this respect.

The following may be regarded as their chief distinguishing marks : The beak powerful, as long as, or longer than, it is deep; the basal half of the upper mandible set angularly, with a shallow longitudinal furrow; sides only slightly compressed, the point bent sharply downwards and overhanging, with a small indentation; the lower mandible with broad rounded socket edge; the tongue thick, fleshy, with broad, blunt point; the nostrils small, uncovered, in a narrow cere; eyes large and round, with a power of dilating or contracting the pupil to an extraordinary extent with every varying sensation; the lores and region round the eye feathered; the wings long and pointed; flights obtusely rounded at the end, rarely quite pointed; the tail graduated, in the shape of a wedge, the two centre feathers usually much longer than the rest; the feet short and stout; the plumage rather hard, without powdery down; body strong, yet slim. Size, varying from that of a thrush to a pigeon. Flight exceedingly skilful and rapid, with quick strokes of the wing, hovering when about to descend; a waddling gait, yet not so inelegant as that of its congeners. They climb rapidly and gracefully.

They extend over a wide region, and are natives of Africa and Asia; one species being found even in both hemispheres, whereas most of the others inhabit only a small circuit. Comparatively few observations have been made as to their life in freedom; and here I have pleasure in drawing attention to the fact that the process of breeding has been carried on in captivity, and has given opportunities for studying the development of several species. The Noble Parrakeets are said to live almost without exception gregariously, different varieties, however, never being intermixed.

As regards nesting, they resemble the other parrots, inasmuch as they build their nests in the hollows of trees, but some species use also holes in rocks or walls. The brood is said to consist of two eggs, and each couple produces several broods consecutively. They chiefly inhabit the plains along the rivers, where thick forests grow, but are also found in more open plains or hilly neighbourhoods, and several species are reported to have been met with in the mountains at a height of 11,000ft. Their food consists of all kinds of seeds and fruits. After the breeding season they assemble in greater or lesser numbers, and in their search for food attack the crops of rice and maize. On this account an exterminating war is waged against them, and they therefore display great craftiness and caution. They hide themselves most cunningly, aided by their green plumage, in the dense tops of the highest trees, remaining perfectly motionless till one after another flies secretly away. In countries where they are not pursued, as in India, they are, however, so bold that they build their nests in trees standing in the open spaces in thickly populated towns, or in the holes of lofty buildings.

Travellers tell us that in their native lands many varieties may be seen half tame in the villages, where they not only build as mentioned above, but also are fed with the domestic fowl. These parrakeets are great favourites among the natives, and are often seen with them, in cages or chained to rings. Many species are taken from the nest and reared by hand in great numbers, but the majority of those imported are certainly birds which have been captured by means of large nets at drinking places and the like. These latter are also easily tamed and trained; and of those which come to us, not only do the young birds, taken from the nest and brought up by hand, but even those caught when old, become in a comparatively short time tame and affectionate, and prove themselves possessed of an aptitude for being trained.

Among the various species of the Noble Parrakeets the capacity for speech differs in an extraordinary degree, even in individual birds of one and the same species; yet, as in the case of the great Short-tailed Parrots, it is to be remarked that by far the greater number have proved themselves good speakers, and but few are incapable of good training.

The above remarks especially concern one group, the so-called Alexandrine Parrakeets; the charming, easily bred Blossom-headed or Rose-headed Parrakeets (Psittacus Paloeornis cyano-cephalus, L., and P. rosiceps, Rssseu., P. rosa, Bdd.), the peculiar and beautifully-coloured Malabar Parrakeet (P. peristerodes, Fnsch.), etc, have not as yet proved themselves gifted with speech. Of course, I must exclude those which do not speak, and confine myself to the description of the Alexandrine Parrakeets.

They are healthy, hardy birds, which may be easily kept for years in a cage with simple management, being fed only with seeds - such as hemp, oats, canary-seed, and maize - with the addition of good fruit, and some biscuit and egg-bread. To this simplicity of treatment is joined the above-mentioned quality of special interest to readers of this work - namely, that they are among the best speakers; and some species come near, or even excel, the Amazons and Grey Parrot, besides which they are exceedingly tame, amiable and gentle. They may, on the other hand, be reckoned among the worst screamers, and sometimes cannot be quieted by any means; moreover, they are incorrigibly destructive to wood, completely wrecking every part of the cage or stand which is not of metal; and they bully other birds most inexcusably. If handled carelessly, again, they may prove very vicious biters, and no bird becomes more obstinate, wicked, and spiteful than an Alexandrine Parrakeet, if treated igno-rantly or improperly.

Some of the varieties described belong to the more common species in the trade; others, on the contrary, are very rare. As birds are frequently imported which are not perfectly coloured, and as the amateur may purchase one which has been bred in this country, I may remark that all these parrakeets get their fully coloured plumage very late, seldom before they are two years old.