262



In the description of the Bird, the Museum Catalogue

(Vol. XIV. p. 423) says,—“ narrow superciliaries buffy white,

produced on the nape into pale bluish lateral tufts.” Jerdon

gives it,—“ a white superciliary line extending to the nape, but

not quite meeting its fellow.” On my bird, the superciliary

streak is mostly buffy white, except at the tufts, which seem to

be white ; but I may be mistaken, for, if I now look attentively

at the Pitta, it is off in a moment. Jerdon does not refer to the

tufts, but describes their position well, for they are hardly lateral.

Some times these tufts are rather conspicuous, and at one time I

thought to sex the species by their aid ; but I will not now do

more than throw out the hint for some one else to work out.


With another extract from my journal I will close:—

“When courting, perhaps they turn their backs to their mate,

standing up and folding and unfolding wings, tail wagging

perpendicularly.”



NOTES ON THE RACKET-TAILED PARROT.


Prioniturus platjirus.


By E. W. Harper, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.


I don’t like rushing into print, especially when I feel that

my knowledge of the subject upon which I am writing is very

small. Parrots are not birds which I am particularly partial to.

From an early age, I have been under the impression that

Parrots in general are birds which delight to render themselves

objectionable by making hideous noises ; this impression was

doubtless given by frequent visits to the Parrot-house at the

London Zoo, when my age was what is generally known as

tender. Another reason why Parrots are not favourites of mine

is that everyone who sees a Parrot—specially if it be a lady—is

sure to ask, “ Can it talk ? ” In the case of the bird I am now

writing about, I had to reply in the negative ; at the same time

looking and feeling very sheepish. Nearly everyone to whom I

had to confess that the bird was not of a conversing nature,

appeared to give me a look which embraced contempt as well as

pity. Contempt for a man who was unable to teach a Parrot to

talk : pity for the individual who could be such a confirmed idiot

as to keep a bird which could not talk! Things got to such a

pitch that I dreaded telling anyone that I had a Parrot at all ;

lest I might be requested to bring it forth for inspection. If it

got to the inspection stage, and such exclamations as “ Pretty

dear,” “ Oh ! what a beauty,” were indulged in (to the Parrot, of



