Distinguishing Marks - As Cage Birds - Management.

The Eclecti, or, as they are called in Germany, "The Noble Parrots" (Eclectus, Wgl.) are large, handsome birds, closely allied to the Amazons as well as to the Pioninae, though they are distinguished from both by very distinct marks. These marks are as follows : The beak remarkably large and powerful, rather thick and broad, deeply bent downwards at the base, rounded off at the sides and on the ridge; the point of the upper mandible projects moderately; near the point there is a faint indentation; the lower beak is deeper, with a broad socket-edge, the sharp edges towards the end are deeply hollowed out; the tongue is thick, fleshy, ending abruptly; the nostrils are small and round, and towards the cere are mostly covered with the feathers; the circle round the eyes is feathered; the wings are longer than the tail; the latter is broad, almost straight, or rounded off; the feet are strong and short; the claws are powerful and curved; the plumage is firm and hard; the colour green or dark-red; the body compact and stout. Size, that of a raven, or rather less.

They are said to inhabit chiefly New Guinea, the Moluccas, and the Philippine Islands, and they probably extend as far as Celebes on the west, to Solomon's Island on the east, and northwards as far as the Philippines.

On the whole, we may regard their habits as similiar to those of the other larger parrots, only they are probably quieter, less active, more unwieldy, and more silent in freedom, as they are in the cage. Their food, as far as we know, consists of seeds, nuts, stone-fruits, and other soft, sweet fruits. Where they flourish in great number they effect, like all parrots, a good deal of damage. Though their flight is clumsy, they accomplish long distances quickly. They look awkward both in climbing and walking on the ground. When in the forests they are said to be more frequently solitary than gregarious.

Dr. Finsch has divided the Eclecti into two groups - firstly, the green or red species, without marks on the wings, with an almost straight tail, and the skin of the nose covered with feathers; secondly, the yellowish-green species, with marked wings, longer rounded tail, and unfeathered skin on the nose. If this division be maintained, then on no account must the first group be divided into two kinds - green and red; for Dr. A. B. Meyer, the well-known traveller, at present director of the Natural History Museum, in Dresden, has lately made the interesting discovery that two such variously-coloured birds always form one species, of which the green is the male and the red the female. The conclusion at which Dr. Meyer thus arrived, that the numerous green Eclecti shot down by him always proved upon examination to be male birds, and the red ones to be females, was at first much disputed, and even strenuously opposed; nevertheless, it has been established as a fact by the experiments in breeding made by Dr. Frenzel, of Freiberg, as well as by information sent by Dr.. Finsch from the place of their habitation.

The Eclecti, especially the male of the New Guinea Eclectus, must be reckoned amongst the best and longest-known cage birds; yet they are almost always imported singly and most of them are very rare. Immediately after their arrival they appear very weak, and need much care to keep them alive and to acclimatise them; but as soon as they have passed, after the first few months, through the dangers of the changed circumstances, they become very healthy and hardy, and, with favourable surroundings, live many years. To their extreme quietness in the cage, of which I spoke before, is probably due the fact that they are not special favourites, though their strikingly-beautiful and brilliant plumage makes them of value as ornamental birds. They do not nearly equal the Grey Parrot nor the Amazon in intelligence, though they surpass the Pioninae. We have many examples of very tame and affectionate Eclecti, as well as of individuals which have proved highly-talented speakers, though, on the whole, as talkers, they can only take third, or, at the best, secondary rank.

Their management is somewhat difficult, for on their voyage to this country they are accustomed, as a rule, only to soaked rice, bananas, and other soft fruit; but it is well to accustom them as soon as possible, but, of course, very gradually, in the manner described on page 29, to canary seed, oats, some hemp, and sunflower seed, also raw unshelled rice, and good fruit (the best is cherries, pears, or apples), with the addition of some egg-bread moistened in water, or some hard biscuit; service berries are also eaten with eagerness, and are very wholesome. Branches for gnawing must not be omitted, young shoots of the pine being especially liked. If it be possible to obtain heads of maize fresh from the garden (preferably with the grain still in a milky state), nothing further can be needed for acclimatisation. Their diseases are the same as those of other parrots; but at first they are apt to suffer from any change of temperature or draughts, coughing, panting, discharge from the nose, and, consequently, inflammation of the organs of breathing; but these, if treated properly, will pass over without danger.