Читать книгу The Natural History of Cage Birds - Bechstein Johann Matthäus - Страница 41

Psittacus Guianensis, Linnæus; La Perruche Pavouane, Buffon; Der Guianische Sittich, Bechstein

This species is only twelve inches in length, including the tail, which measures six and a quarter, and has the two centre feathers three inches longer than the others. The upper part of the body is dark green, the under lighter. The cheeks are not spotted with bright red till the third year.

Observations. – It is a native of Guiana, Cayenne, and the Caribbee Islands. Bird-sellers in Germany are generally provided with them, as they are not delicate or difficult to carry about. They must be treated like the former species.

“This,” says Buffon, “is, of all parrots from the new continent, the most easily taught to speak; nevertheless it is only tractable in this particular, for even after a long captivity it still preserves a native wildness and ferocity, and is sometimes stubborn and ill-humoured. But as it has a lively eye, is neatly and well formed, it is admired for its shape.”