THE SMALL.BILLED PAREAKEETS. 231 

 CHAP. XGVII.— THE TOVI PAERAKEET. 



Psittacus tovi, Gml. 

 Tovi Parrakeet (Ger., Tovi'Schmalschncibelsittich, Tovisittich, 

 Schmalschnabelsittich mit gelhen Unterjiilgeldechen, Goldkinn- 

 sittich (/), gewohnlich bios Grassittich oder Grasperikit ; Fr., 

 Perruche Tovi ; Dut., Tovi Parkiet) — Description — Habitat — 

 Character in Captivity. 



Though commonly known, the Tovi Parrakeet is not often seen 

 in the market. It is only imported occasionally, and usually in 

 pairs. It was described and delineated by Brisson in 1760, but 

 was often confused with other varieties by the older authors. 

 They give us no particulars as to its life in captivity. 



All the body is green ; the head grass-green, with a tinge of 

 malachite-green ; the hinder part of the neck and the shoulders 

 have a shade of olive-brown ; the rest of the upper part of the 

 body is dark green ; the rump and upper coverts of the tail 

 a faint bluish grass-green ; the primaries have a blackish 

 edge on the inner web ; the secondaries are bluish ; all 

 the wing feathers are of a dull green on the reverse side, 

 blackish on the outer web ; the coverts of the primaries are 

 dark blue ; the central and smallest wing coverts, together 

 with the coverts of the shoulder, a yellowish cinnamon-brown ; 

 the small and central under coverts lemon-yellow ; the tail 

 feathers dark malachite-green, a lighter 5'-ello wish-green on the 

 reverse side ; a deep orange-yellow spot on the throat, close 

 under the lower mandible ; all the under parts of the body light 

 greenish-yellow ; the thighs, belly, and lower coverts of the tail 

 grass-green, with a malachite-green lustre ; the beak whitish 

 horn-grey ; the upper mandible has a blackish point ; eyes dark 

 brown ; feet greyish flesh - colour ; dark horn - grey claws. 

 About the size of a sparrow (length, 7|in. ; wings, 4in. to 4Jin. ; 

 tail, 2;i;in. to 2fin.). The plumage and size of the young bird 

 does not vary from the above. 



It is a native of Central America and the northern districts of 

 South America ; it is said to be common in New Granada and 

 Panama, but not to be found in Brazil. Dr. A. von Frantzius 

 states that in Costa Rica he met with it only in the warmest 

 parts, chiefly at the Gulf of Nicaya. He adds : ''They always 

 die very soon on the highlands, where they are brought for sale 

 in numbers. They are easily tamed, and learn to speak a 

 little." 



