Psittacus farinosus, Bdd.

Mealy Amazon (Ger., Mullerpapagei, Midler oder Muller-amazone, weissbepuderter Amazonenpapagei, bereifter Kurz-fiugelpapagei; Fr., Perroquet Amazone poudree, Meunier; Dut., Muller Amazone Papegaai) - Qualities as a Talker - Physical Characteristics - Habitat.

This is another favourite speaker; it may decidedly be counted among the most talented, and it shows itself at the same time gentle and lovable; but, unfortunately, it is also one of the worst screamers, and even when trained and perfectly tamed never ceases from time to time to utter the most ear-piercing cries.

The Mealy Amazon is yellowish-green on the forehead and cheeks; the centre of the head is yellow, sometimes with fine red spots; each feather on the top of the head is edged with violet; all the upper part of the body is of a dark grass-green; on the back of the head and neck each feather has a blackish tip; the central spot on the wing is scarlet; tail feathers green without red; all the lower body light yellowish-green; lower coverts of the tail greenish-yellow; beak whitish horn-grey; at the base of both upper and lower beak an orange-yellow spot; the skin on the nose blackish; eyes dark-brown, inclining to red-brown; the iris has a cherry-coloured ring; the eye cere white; feet dark-brown; claws black. The difference of sex, and the plumage when young, are as yet unknown. Special indications : The feathers appear as if powdered with flour, and, therefore, the upper part of the body looks grey-green; when sitting still the whole bird looks uniformly grey-green; moreover, though it has the red spots on the wing, there are no red marks in the tail, and its feathers are mixed with more down than those of any other parrot. In this species also varieties occur - many have no yellow on the top of the head; in others it extends over the whole top of the head; sometimes one is found without down. Size, about that of a raven or larger (length, 18 1/2in. to 19 1/2in.; wings, 8 1/2in. to 10in.; tail, 4 1/4in. to 5 1/2in.). It is, therefore, one of the largest of the Amazon Parrots.

It is a native of South America (Central Brazil, Guiana, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Panama), and is said to be especially numerous in Guiana. Its mode of life resembles, on the whole, that of the other Amazons. It is much hunted, is easily tamed and trained, and learns to speak well; nevertheless, on account of its screaming, it is not so highly esteemed as its fellows previously described.