Psittacns menstruus, L.

The Blue-headed Parrot (Ger., Blaukopf, falschlich blaukopfiger Portoriko-papagei, Schwarzolirpapagei, Schwarzgeohrter Langflugelpapagei, Maitaka; Fr., Perroquet d tete bleue; Dut., Blauwhop Langvleugel Papegaai) - Distinguishing Marks - Character as a Talker.

This species, which, as early as 1764, was well depicted by Edwards, and described by Linne, has, however, been constantly confused with others, although it may always be distinguished from its congeners by its blue head, neck, and breast. It is coloured as follows : A broad band of corn-flower blue across the forehead; the top of the head, neck, and back of the neck covered as with blue and green scales; the spot on the •ear black (but here also each feather is delicately tipped with blue); the upper part of the back is olive-green : the hinder part of the back, the rump, and the upper coverts of the tail, a pure green; all the quills and their coverts are green; the centre feathers of the tail green, blue at the point, the outer webs blue, and the inner webs at the base red; all the upper part of the body a dark grass-green; the coverts of the wings are a yellow-brownish olive-green; the cheeks, sides of the head, and the upper part of the throat, blue; the upper part of the breast greenish-blue, with a red lustre; the lower part of the breast and the belly olive-green; the under coverts of the tail a dark purplish-red, with a green band and a blue spot at the end; the beak is a blackish-brown, with a red spot at the base of the upper mandible (when old, also on the lower mandible); the cere dark-grey; the eyes grey, inclining to a blackish-brown; eye cere slate-grey; feet whitish-grey, with black scales and claws. The distinguishing marks of the female are not known with certainty. The plumage of the young bird is nearly uniformly green; the forehead and top of the head are, strange to say, red; the throat and upper part of the breast bluish; the beak greyish-yellow, inclining to a reddish-orange. About the size of a jackdaw (length, 10 3/4in.; wings, 6 3/8in. to 7 1/4in.; tail, 2in. to 2 3/4in.). According to Finsch, in any stage of plumage it may be recognised by the rump and the upper coverts of the tail being green, the lower tail coverts having green tips, and the two middle feathers of the tail blue tips.

This Long-winged Parrot is a native of South America, from the South of Brazil to Panama, and lately it has been found in Central America. Sclater says it also lives in Mexico and Trinidad. It is said to resemble the Amazons in its natural habits. Mr. Petermann informs us that "it becomes extremely tame and affectionate, and displays much intelligence, although its talent for speech is small."

Schlechtendal describes it as a good-tempered, rather awkward bird, which soon becomes tame, but has an unpleasant voice. Mrs. von Proscheck, of Vienna, had a Maitaka Parrot which talked, and the wholesale dealer, Mr. Fockelmann, in Hamburg, had such a one, which latter also learnt to whistle prettily. Mr. Fiedler had several which screamed almost incessantly; but these were already old birds. The young Maitaka is, in my opinion, as pleasant a companion as the Senegal Parrot, and, like the latter, learns to chatter a little, but not much.