210 THE SPEAKING PABROTS. 



CHAP. LXXXVIL— LUZIAN'S PAREAKEET. 



Psittacus Luziani, Vrrx. 



Luzians Parraheet (Ger., Prinz Luzians Edelsitticli, Bartsitiich, 

 lAiziansittich ; Fr., Perruche de Liizian; Dut., Luzians 

 Edelparkiet) — DescrijJtion — Habitat — Baritij. 



A GREEN Parrakeet with a blackish-green band on the forehead ; 

 the crown and back of the head a reddish-grey-green ; the 

 lores, and the spot on the chin, black ; the sides of the 

 head vermilion ; the nape and back of the neck rose-coloured 

 yellow ; the back pale green ; the quills darker green, a 

 blackish-green on the reverse side ; the reverse side of the tail 

 feathers greyish-yellow ; the throat grey ; the neck, and upper 

 part of the breast, yellowish-green ; all the rest of the under 

 parts of the body green ; the upper mandible vermilion, the 

 lower black ; the eyes yellowish-white ; the feet black. In the 

 female, or young bird, the plumage varies ; the sides of the head 

 are dark red ; the crown of the head green ; the beak black ; 

 otherwise similar. The male bird may be distinguished from 

 the Javan Parrakeet by the absence of the yellow spot on the 

 shoulder, and the red breast ; besides having a stouter beak and 

 being much larger. 



According to Sclater, it is a native of China. It was described 

 by Verreaux, in 1850, from a living specimen in the Zoological 

 Garden at Amsterdam ; a second appeared in Van Aken's 

 menagerie ; and a third in the London Zoological Gardens in 

 1857. Since then this parrakeet has been seen aiow and then 

 in the market, and the wholesale dealer, Henry Muller, of Ham- 

 burg, had a beautiful male bird in full plumage, which was 

 quite tame and spoke several phrases distinctly. Two specimens 

 were sent to the Zoological Garden at Hamburg, in 1880, and 

 the bird-dealer, Mr. Dieckmann, of Hamburg, offered a couple 

 for £6 in 1882. Hence we may expect that these beautiful birds 

 will sooner or later prove welcome additions to the European 

 bird markets. 



