Psittacus cactorum, Pr. Wd.

Currassow Parrakeet, Maccawle Parrakeet (Ger., Grunwangiger Keilschwanzsittich, Kaktussittich, Kaktus-Perikit; Fr., Perruche cactus, Perruche a joues verts, Perruche d ventre orange; Dut., Groenwang Parkiet).

The last three species of Conures which come under our notice as speakers may be classed together, for, from the amateur's point of view, they are of little importance as talking birds, and otherwise resemble each other in several respects. At first sight, notwithstanding their plain plumage, they appear very attractive and charming, or at the least, pretty, droll little birds; and for this reason they find many admirers. On closer acquaintance, however, they become quite unbearable, by reason of their shrill, piercing, and irrepressible cries, while their talent for speech, as before remarked, is bat small. Nevertheless, being classed among speakers, they must find mention here. Among men of science these conures have excited much confusion and discussion, and no one, even in the present day, is quite clear respecting them. I shall, however, describe them here, as I have seen them before me in numbers for years, and I know them probably better than anyone else.

The Yellow-cheeked Conure is dark orange on the forehead as far as the eyes, the lores, the temples, the region around the ear, the sides of the head, and the base of the beak; the crown of the head is marine blue; the back of the head and the nape of the neck greenish-yellow, all the rest of the upper parts of the body grass-green; the tips of the wings greenish-blue, the inner webs edged with black, the reverse side blackish-grey; the feathers of the tail bluish at the end, olive greenishyellow on the reverse side, all the rest of the upper part grass-green; the sides of the neck, the throat, and the upper part of the breast ochre-brownish olive-green; the breast and all the rest of the under parts of the body a yellowish grass-green; an orange spot in the middle of the belly; the beak brownish horn-grey, inclining to a slate-coloured black; the cere greyish, or sometimes pure white; the eyes brownish-yellow, inclining to dark-brown; the unfeathered skin round the eye white; the feet brownish horn-grey; claws black. The plumage of the young bird orange only on the lores and round the eye; the forehead and top of the head a dull marine blue; the sides of the head, the base of the beak, and the throat olive-brown; the belly orange. The intermediate plumage : A broad band of pale brownish yellow on the forehead; the forehead and crown of the head brownish-green; a broad orange-yellow circle round the eye; the eye region, the cheeks, throat, and upper part of the breast, pale yellowish-brown; the lower part of the belly orange-yellow. Size, that of a thrush (length, 9 7/8in. to 10 1/4in.; wings, 4 7/8in. to 5 3/8in.; longest feather of the tail, 3 3/4 in. to 4 5/8in. : outermost tail feathers, 2 1/8in. to 3in.). It is a native of South America, from Rio Negro to Darien, across Panama, the West Indian Islands, Trinidad, St. Croix, and St. Thomas.

The Brown-throated Conure is of a pale ochre-brown on the forehead; the crown of the head a dull marine blue; the lores, round about the eye, the cheeks, and sides of the head ochre brownish-grey, marked as with fine black scales; the wings a pale greenish-blue on the outer web, the inner web grey, the reverse side silver-grey; the small under coverts of the wing yellowish-green; the two central feathers of the tail blue on the tip, the basal half greenish, the others bluish-green, all olive greenish-yellow on the reverse side; the rest of the upper part of the body a pure dark green; the throat and upper part of the breast ochre brownish-grey, marked as with fine black scales; the under part of the breast and the belly a pure greenish-yellow; the breast and sides of the belly yellow; the hinder part of the body a reddish orange-yellow, inclining to a bright orange-red; the beak blackish-grey; the cere white; the feet flesh-colour; the claws black. Size, same as the preceding. It inhabits the same districts as the Yellow-cheeked Conure.

The Cactus Conure is olive-brown on the forehead and front of the head, with a brownish-grey shade through it; the head grass-green; the wings dark green, the tips greenish-blue, the inner webs blackish, the reverse side all greyish-black; the small under coverts of the wing grass-green, with some yellowish feathers; the tail greenish-blue, and the tip a dull greyish orange-yellow on the reverse side; all the rest of the upper part of the body grass-green; the lores, the cheeks, and round the ear light green; the lower part of the cheeks, the throat, and upper part of the breast olive-greenish ochre-brown; the breast, sides, belly, and hinder part of the body deep orange-yellow; the thigh and under coverts of the tail light green; beak a pinkish grey-white; the skin on the nose white; the eyes yellowish-grey or orange-yellow; the broad bare circle round the eyes whitish-grey; the feet dark flesh-colour; claws black. Size, same as the two preceding. Home, the east of Brazil.

According to the accounts of the travellers, Schomburgk, Natterer, and Burmeister, which are unfortunately very brief, we only know of these parrakeets that they have the same habits as those I spoke of in the lengthier description of the Conures.

The two first-mentioned - the Yellow-cheeked Conure and the Brown-throated Conure - were described by Brisson, 1760, and named by Linne; the Cactus Conure, however, was first discovered and described by Prince Max von Wied in 1820. Bech-stein depicts them both according to Buffon's description, and adds that they are usually kept in couples in brass wire cages, and fed with Vienna bread moistened in milk, and nuts, and that they are much admired on account of their beautiful colours, affection, and mutual tenderness - " but they hardly learn to speak at all, and make a constant disagreeable noise."

At present all three species appear frequently and numerously in the market, so that they are amongst the commonest birds in the trade; but the Cactus Conure is somewhat more rare than the others. The dealers and the amateurs do not, as a rule, make any distinction between these species, and only for breeders are they offered according to the different varieties; but as yet, unfortunately, in spite of many attempts, they have not been bred with any success. They are, however, extremely amusing, and become much more rapidly tame and gentle than their congeners above mentioned, and may be accustomed to fly about freely in the garden or courtyard, returning to perch on the hand when called. The Baroness von Schlechta praises the Brown-throated Conure as being "an affectionate and merry bird, which has often cheered me with its simple song, and cried out in a very amusing manner, clawing its beak with its foot, 'Pretty Poll! pretty Poll! there, there! there, there!' In other respects it was very clever, but often very wild." Another specimen was more gentle. When these parrakeets have become tame after the manner described, and have been taught to speak, they seldom, if ever, utter their disagreeable cry. For this purpose it is, of course, necessary to obtain birds as young as possible.