134 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



upper part of the back edged with a pale-blue ; the hinder part 

 of the back and the rump sky-blue ; the flights ultramarine- 

 blue, the inner webs having a dark edge ; the coverts of the 

 primaries and secondaries marine-blue ; the last four or five green, 

 black at the ends, with a broad orange-yellow border on the 

 inner and outer webs ; the remaining large covert feathers 

 black, deeply bordered on both webs with orange-yellow ; the 

 tail feathers are dark-green, olive-yellow at the tip ; the reverse 

 of the tail is all olive-yellow ; the lower part of the body is 

 completely olive-yellowish green ; the breast and sides of the 

 belly more yellow ; the beak vermilion, the point whitish ; the 

 eyes dark-brown ; the eye cere a blackish-grey ; feet yellowish- 

 brown, with black scales and claws. Size, about that of a raven 

 (length, 14^in. to 15|in.; wings, 8iin. to 9jin. ; tail, 5in. to 



Gin.). 



They are natives of the easterly Moluccas, but it is not yet cer- 

 tain how far they extend. The species was mentioned by Brisson, 

 Buff on, and others, as early as the year 17 GO, and described by 

 Boddaert in 1783. The older writers make no mention of it. 

 We have as yet unfortunately little information concerning the 

 mode of life. The travellers. Dr. A. B. Meyer and von Eosen- 

 berg, tell us that this parrot lives alone in the forests far from 

 the dwellings of man, and utters loud cries when anyone 

 approaches. No researches have been made as to its food, 

 breeding, &c. 



It only appears singly in our markets ; indeed, the largest 

 number known to have been imported at one time was six, 

 which Dr. Platen brought from Celebes. It is said to speak 

 well, but as yet we have no evidence on the point. 



CHAP. XLIIL— MULDER'S PAEEOT. 



Psittacus Miilleri, Tmm. 



The White-hilled Parrot (Ger., Midler s Edelpapagei, Weiss- 

 schnaheJpcqxigei ; Fr., Perroquet de Midler ; Dut., Midler s 

 Edelp)aj)egaai, Molenaar) — Description. 



This is the best known of the smaller Eclecti, for, although by 

 no means frequent or numerous, yet it is occasionally imported. 



