University of Wisconsin Digital Collections
Link to University of Wisconsin Digital Collections
Link to University of Wisconsin Digital Collections
Digital Library for the Decorative Arts and Material Culture

Page View

Edwards, George, 1694-1773. / A natural history of birds. The most of which have not hitherto been either figured or described, and the rest, by reason of obscure, or too brief descriptions without figures, or of figures very ill designed, are hitherto but little known
(1751)

The dusky parrot,   pp. 167-[Plate] 167 ff.


Page 167

( I67 )
The Dulky PARROT.
H I S Bird is about the Bignefs of the common blue Pigeon,
T    bred in our Dove-houfes. It is remarkable for being of a
very bad Colour for the Parrot-Kind, who are a Tribe of Birds well
known to be of a very gay Plumage.
The Bill is formed like thofe of other Parrots, Black in the Middle
of the upper Mandible; the Skin that contains in it the Nofirils, is
alfo Black or Dusky; the Bafe of the Bill is Yellow; the Remainder
to the Point, of a fine Red; the Eyes are of a dark Hazel-Colour,
encompaffed with bare Spaces of Skin of a whitifl Afli-Colour; the
Top of the Head is Dusky or Black; the Sides of the Head under the
Eyes, and the Hinder-part of the Neck are Greenifh ; the Back is of a
dark, dusky Colour; the Rump again Greenifh ; the Tail is Green on
its upper Side ; the outer Webs of the two outermoft Feathers are
Blue; the under Side of the Tail is of a dusky Green ; the Covert-
Feathers beneath the Tail are of a fine Red.  The Throat (for an Inch
or more beneath the Bill) is of a fine Blue; the Breaft, Belly and
Thighs, are of a dusky-brownifh Amh-Colour ; the Wings are Green;
the innermoft Quills next the Back have yellow Borders ; t{he Legs and
Feet (made as in moft other Parrots) are cover'd with a fcaly Skin of
a Lead-Colour; the Claws are pretty ftrong and Black. Where the
Colours change in this Bird it is not fuddenly, but each Colour mixes
gradually, and lofes itfelf in its Neighbour-Colour, except the Spot of
Red under the Tail, which is pretty diftindt.
This Bird was the Property of my much refpealed and curious Friend,
Mr. Peter Colinfon, F. R. S. who kept it alive fome Years, and in-
vited me to take a Draught of it. He informed me that it w.Is brought
from New Spain, on the Continent of America. Though it be not
lo beautiful as many others, yet I take it to be very rare, it being the
only one of this Species I have chanced to fee, notwithlfanding my
diligent Search after curious and unknown Animals. As I can find no-
thing like a Defeription of it, I believe I may fafely pronounce it, a
Non-defeript.
77,e


Go up to Top of Page