2(52 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



898— P. melaiiorhynclius, Sykes, Cat. 121 (tlie female)— Mad an- 

 (four tola, IL, in the South. 



The Blue-winged Parrakeet. 



Descr. — Head, hind neck, interscapularies, and the plumage 

 beneath, generally, pale dove grey, purest on the head and 

 cheeks ; a verdigris green patch on the forehead, lores, and below 

 the eye ; a black collar round the neck, meeting at the chin ; 

 and in front of this there is a verdigris-green collar, which widens 

 on the upper part of the neck ; the lower part of the back, rump, 

 and upper tail-coverts, blue-green ; wing-coverts, and scapulars, 

 dark blue-green, the feathers edged pale ; the primary coverts and 

 quills, darkish blue, faintly edged with green externally, and 

 dusky on the inner webs ; tail-coverts, with the centre feathers, blue, 

 tipped with yellowish white ; the next pair blue on the outer web, 

 greenish near the base, and tipped yellow ; all the others green 

 externally, yellow internally ; beneath all the tail feathers yellow ; 

 lower abdomen, vent, and under tail-covcrts, pale verdigris 

 green. 



The female wants the collar, or has only a faint indication 

 of it, and the bill is black. 



Bill cherry-red above, dusky beneath ; legs greenish plumbeous. 



Length 15 inches ; wing 6 ; tail 8f ; bill at gape not quite |; 

 height |. 



This beautiful Parrakeet is found only in the jungles of the 

 Malabar coast, from Travancore up to N. L. 17° or so, and from 

 the level of the sea to 5,000 feet and upwards, on the slopes of the 

 Neilgherries. It, in general, keeps to the depths of the forests, 

 and frequents only the loftiest trees. Its flight is rapid and ele- 

 gant, and it associates in small flocks. Its cry is mellow, subdued, 

 and agreeable. It feeds chiefly on fruits of various kinds. The 

 young birds are occasionally taken in the Wynaad by some 

 of the jungle races there, and brought for sale to the Neilgherries. 



152. Palaeornis Javanicus, Osbeck. 



Psittacus, apud Osbeck — P. barbatus, Gmel. — Blyth, Cat. 25 

 — P. Osbecki, Latham — HoRsr., Cat. 904 — Ps. Ponticerianus 



