Psittacus albifrcms, Sprrm.

Spectacle Parrot (Ger., Brillenamazone, Weissstirnige Amazone, Weisszugeliger Kurzflugelpapagei; Fr., Perroquet a front blanc, Perroquet a joues rouges; Dut., Witvoorhoqfd Amazon Papegaai) - Description.

Although described by Hernandez in the year 1651, yet this parrot has been almost up to the present time a rarity in museums as a stuffed specimen. In the trade it has long been one of the better known, though, perhaps, not one of the commonest. Of late, however, it has appeared several times at bird shows. It is white on the forehead and top of the head, with a blue, spot on the crown; a narrow scarlet band on the forehead; the lores are scarlet, also the eyebrow stripes, and a wide space round the eye near the beak (the red band on the forehead is sometimes wanting); the back of the head and neck are bluish-green; the cheeks and space round the ear yellowish-green; the bend of the wing and the coverts of the primaries bright scarlet; the edge of the wing is green; the four outer tail feathers are red on both webs at the base; all the upper part of the body is dark grass-green, each feather having a dark edge; the lower part of the body is a faint, paler green, with a faded dark edge to the feathers; the belly and lower tail coverts yellowish-green; the beak greyish waxy-yellow; the skin on the nose yellowish-grey; the eyes yellow, inclining to a reddish-brown; eye cere a dark slate-colour; feet a brownish-grey; claws blackish. About the size of a jackdaw (length, 12 1/8in. to 12 1/2in.; wings, 7 1/4in. to 7 1/2in.; tail, 3 3/4in. to 4 3/8in.). It is a native of Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

This Amazon, which has hitherto received but little notice, has lately been described very favourably by Mr. F. Arnold, of Munich : "It speaks a great deal, but only a few words clearly; it learns very quickly, but forgets just as soon. Otherwise it is a delightful household companion, which allows the children to do as they like with it - drive it about in a doll's carriage, etc. It also is fond of teasing in its turn : it climbs up the curtain just to such a height that its little friends cannot reach it, and challenges them with continual cries to pursue it further by the aid of chairs and tables, till at last it walks up and down, with a dignified air, on the curtain-pole at a safe height. Its wishes, such as to have its head scratched, to shake hands, or to receive a bit of biscuit or a piece of apple, must be immediately complied with; or, if these modest desires are not attended to, it withdraws, and rejects all efforts at reconciliation by pecking with its beak. It destroys everything it can reach; but, if it be scolded, it knows how, with wonderful sagacity, to disarm the intention by a great show of affection. On this account it has been, and continues to be, the favourite with all the members of the family." In this we have confirmation of the opinion as to the talent of the smaller Amazons which I have already expressed.