Psittacus Sallei, Scl.

Salle's Amazon (Ger., St. Domingo-Amazone, weissstimige Porto-riko - Amazone, Blaukrone, Salle's Kurzflugelpapagei; Fr., Perroquet Amazone de St. Domingo; Dut., Salle's Amazone Papegaai) - Description.

In this species we introduce a group of smaller Amazons which are usually called collectively by the dealers "Porto Rico Parrots." As mentioned on page 97, they are far behind the great speakers previously treated of, both in the talent for speech and in general cleverness; on the other hand, they are always very trustworthy and gentle; but they must certainly be accounted dreadful screamers. Salle's Amazon Parrot has a white forehead and lores; front and crown of the head dull blue; cheeks green, near the ear black; upper coverts of the tail yellow-green; coverts of the primaries and bend of wing blue; outer feathers of the tail, at the basal half, scarlet,, which colour decreases on the inside; all the upper part of the body dark grass-green; each feather edged with black; lower part lighter grass-green; the hinder part of the body with a round, dull scarlet spot; near the leg bluish-green; beak yellowish horn-grey; cere whitish-grey; eyes dark-brown, inclining to red-brown; eye cere almost pure white; feet whitish-grey; claws horn-grey. Special indications : The want of the red line on the forehead, the eyebrow, and the central spot in wing; the forehead is sometimes yellowish-white. About the size of a. jackdaw (length, 12|in. to 13in.; wings, 6|in. to 7 1/4in.; tail, 3 1/2in. to 4in.). It is a native of the Island of St. Domingo.

This pretty little parrot was described by Brisson as early as the year 1760, and was, therefore, known to the older writers; but it was thought to be the female of the White-fronted Amazon Parrot. Dr. Sclater, in 1857, was the first to determine it with certainty as a species. It comes in comparatively small numbers into the market with us, and is not a special favourite. For the rest, the previous remarks on the small Amazons apply also to this.