204 THE SPEAKING PARROTS. 



been made. It appears but very rarely in the market, and is 

 tben, perhaps, frequently confused with others. A Noble 

 Parrakeet of this species which was in my possession became 

 extremely tame and affectionate, and learnt to speak well. 



CHAP. LXXXIII.— THE GREA.T ALEXANDRINE 

 PARRAKEET. 



Psittacus eupatrius, L. 



Alexander Parrakeet (Ger., Rothschulteriger Edelsittich mit rosen^ 

 rothem Halshand, G?'osser Alexander sittich, bios Alexander- 

 sittich, rothschulteriger Edelsittich, Hochedelsittich ; Fr., 

 Grande Per ruche Alexandre, Grande Perruche d' Alexandre; 

 Dut., Groote Alexander-Parkiet) — DescrijHion — Habitat — 

 Character in Captivity. 



Although not so common in the market as the preceding species, 

 and though very rarely imported until lately, this parrakeet is 

 nevertheless universally known, and appears to be essentially a 

 larger copy of the other. It was first described and delineated 

 by Edwards (1747-1764), and scientifically named by Linne. 



The adult male is grass-green, the hinder part of the neck 

 and the upper part of the breast having a faint greyish-green 

 shade; on the back of the neck there is a broad rose-coloured 

 band, this unites at both sides of the neck with a black band, 

 which begins at the base of the under mandible and covers the 

 upper part of the throat ; the back is pure green ; the smallest 

 covert feathers under the wing form a large brownish cherry- 

 coloured spot ; the tail feathers are bluish on the basal half, dark 

 olive greenish-yellow on the reverse side ; beak dark purpiish- 

 red ; eyes yellowish-white ; feet flesh-colour ; claws blackish. The 

 female has no red on the neck, and no black band on the upper 

 part of the throat ; yet it has the red spot under the wing ; the 

 beak is red. As to the plumage of the young bird (that is, in 

 the state in which they come into the market), the upper 

 part of the body is more a greyish olive-green ; the under 

 part yellowish-green ; there is no trace of the band on the neck 

 and throat, nor of the spot on the shoulder ; the eyes are 

 yellowish-white. It is fully the size of a pigeon (length, 15|in. 



