Psittacustirica, Gml.

All-green Parrakeet (Ger., Blumenausittich, Tirikasittich, blos Tirika, blos Grassittich, blavflugeliger Schmalschnabelsittich; Fr., Perruche tirica; Dut., Tirica Parkiet) - Description - Habitat - Importation - Character in Confinement.

The All-green Parrakeet was described by Brisson as early as 1760, and was named by Gmelin in 1788. No mention was made of it before this time. It is of a light grass-green on the forehead, all the rest of the upper part of the body dark grass-green; the primaries are dark blue along the middle of shaft and broad grey-black on the inner web; in the secondaries the greyish-black decreases in extent, and the other wing feathers are uniformly green; all on the reverse side dull green; the coverts of the primaries dark blue; the edge of the wing yellowish-green, and the small under coverts greenish-yellow; the outermost tail feathers are yellowish-green on the inner web, and all are of blackish-green on the reverse side; the cheeks and all the under parts of the body are of a light grass-green; the beak reddish flesh-colour, the point almost white; the cere greyish-green; the wings almost pure green; the coverts of the wing brownish-green. The size is that of a thrush (length, 10 1//4in.; wings, 4 1/4in. to 4 5/8in.; tail, 4in. to 4 7/8in.).

Its home extends from the east of Brazil to Guiana. The travellers, Natterer, Prince von Wied, Schomburgk, Burmeister, Karl Euler, and, more recently, Karl Petermann, have written of its life in freedom. It is common in the forest districts along the coast of Brazil, but is also found throughout that country, and where the forest borders on the plantations one frequently sees enormously large flocks of various species of Conures, and among them the Small-billed Parrakeets. Each species keeps separate in the vast host; but the shrill cry of the All-green Parrakeet can be heard distinctly amid all the noise made by the multitude. On account of the harm they do to the maize and other crops, they are habitually shot. Many species are said to be delicious eating, yet, on the whole, they are not very highly esteemed as game. In recent times these birds have become an important article of commerce, and are, therefore, caught in many ways. Until a short time ago, and as is even now the case in some places, they were so unsuspecting that a whole flock could be taken at one time in the manner described on p. 230. Where they have become more cautious, they are caught in nets, etc, at the drinking places.

The first wholesale importation to Germany was by Mr. William Schliiter, who sent several hundred pairs to Mr. H. Schluter, naturalist, of Halle, most of which were forthwith brought into the market chiefly through the agency of K. Gudera, bird dealer, at that time in Leipzig. Since then these Small-billed Parrakeets have reached Europe in greater or less numbers. Unfortunately, they are usually treated most improperly on the voyage, being fed with crushed maize, or bread moistened with water, the former thrown in among the dirt and the latter not unfrequently sour. If, then, they survive the trying journey from the colony of Blumenau to Rio Janeiro, and afterwards the passage to Hamburg or London, they may surely be included among the hardiest species; and this is, indeed, true, for they have, in several instances, been kept in unheated rooms throughout the winter.

Although the All-green Parrakeet in its native country is highly esteemed and often taught to speak there, and though it is so hardy that it has lived in zoological gardens for ten years or more, yet it does not enjoy any great popularity here. This is due to the fact that it is a bad screamer at times and that it has not as yet proved itself a suitable subject for breeding. I am convinced, however, that it would be advantageous if attempts at breeding it were made - and they would undoubtedly succeed - the young birds tamed, and then taught to speak. As their training advanced they would certainly cease from their disagreeable cry, and thus this comparatively worthless species might become a very valuable one.