PAL^ORNIS. 251 



having been taken thither. In India, P. torquatus extends to the 

 wooded parts of the Punjab, Sind, and Cutch, and to the base of 

 the Himalayas, where the country is open ; but it is not found 

 as a rule on hills nor in large forests. It has been seen at Quetta. 

 A closely allied form, a geographical race in fact, P. docilis, 

 inhabits tropical Africa. 



Habits, 4'G. This is by far the commonest and most famihar ot 

 Indian Parrots, abounding about towns and villages in most parts 

 of the country, and keeping to open and cultivated land. It is 

 often seen perched on houses and buildings of various kinds, such 

 as temples or machans about fields, and it does much damage 

 by pilfering grain and fruit. It occurs in large flocks at times, 

 and these often collect in great numbers towards sunset and perch 

 for the night on trees near towns and villages, with Crows and 

 Mynas. Sometimes bamboos are selected for perching on. The 

 cry of this Parrot, often uttered during the bird's swift arrowy 

 flight, is shrill and rather harsh. 



The breeding-season extends from January to May ; the majority 

 of the eggs, usually four in number, being laid in February to the 

 southward, and in March in Northern India. In Upper Assam this 

 bird is said by Mr. Cripps to breed in June. The eggs are white 

 and glossless, and measure about 1*2 by -95. 



This is the Parrot most commonly kept tame in India ; it is 

 a docile bird and imitates the human voice well. 



1139. Palseornis cyanocephalus. The Western 

 Blossom-headed Paroquet. 



Psittacus cyanocephalus, Zwiw. Syst. Nat. i, p. 141 (1766). 

 Psittacus purpureas, Miill. Natiirsijst. Suj^pl. p. 74 (1776) ; Walden 



in Blyth's Birds Burm. p. 56. 

 Palfeornis bengalensis, apud Jerdon, Madr. Jour. L. S. xi, p. 208. 

 Pala3ornis cyanocephalus, Wagl. Man. Psitt. (Abh. k. buyer. Ak. 

 Wiss. i,) p. 517 ; Bhjth, Cat. p. 5 (part.) ; Hor.rf. Sf M. Cat. n, 

 p. 616 (part.) ; Leyge, Birds Ceyl. p. 174 ; Salvadori, Cat. B. M. 

 XX p. 448. 

 Palffiornis ^osa, ajmd Jerdon, B. 1. i, p. 259; Beavan, i6/s, 1865, 

 p. 409 : Blyth, Ibis, 1870, p. 162 ; Gould, Birds of Asia, vi, pi. 2 

 (pt. xxvi). 

 Palasornis purpureus, Hume, N. ^ E. p. 116 ; id. Cat. no. 149 ; 

 Scully, S. F. viii, p. 241 ; Vidal, S. F. ix, p. 51 ; Butler, ibid. 

 p. 384 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 109 ; Oates in Hume's N. S^ E. 

 2nd ed. iii, p. 87. 

 The Rose-headed Parrakeet, Jerdon; Tuia Tota, H. (in S. India); 

 Faraida, Beng-. ; Tui-suya, Nepal ; Kir, Mahr. ; Bama chilluka, Tel. ; 

 Batu girawa, Malitchia, Oing. ; Killi, Tarn. Ceylon. 



Coloration. Male. Head above and at the sides red, tinged with 

 blue (like the bloom on a plum) on the lower cheeks, occiput, and 

 nape, most strongly near the narrow black collar that includes the 

 chin and extends from the lower mandible round the neck ; hind- 

 neck and sides of neck, behind the collar, verdigris-green ; rump 

 the same; back and scapulars yellowish green; wings green; 



