PICARIAN BIRDS AND PARROTS OF CEYLON. 269 
Habits, &c.—Found in flocks, generally round villages 
where coconut plantations border on forest and jungle. The 
birds usually roost in colonies in coconut groves, flocking with 
loud screams towards their roosting ground just before sunset. 
They feed on fruit, berries, and seeds. 
The breeding season is from November to about March. 
The birds usually select natural holes in trees on the outskirts 
rather than in the interior of forests, increasing these holes to a 
suitable depth and size. Two to four white glossless eggs are 
laid. Average size about 1:2 by °95. 
PALHZORNIS TORQUATUS (Blanford, Vol., III., p. 250; 
Legge, p. 171). 
The Rose-ringed Paroquet. 
Description.—Smaller, but very similar to the last species, 
and with the same sexual differences in the plumage. The 
present species, however, lacks the red patch on the wing 
coverts, and there is little or no yellow on the tips of the 
central tail feathers. In the males the rose collar is generally 
paler and narrower, and the bluish-gray bloom on the neck 
in front of it is more pronounced. In some birds the green 
plumage is tinged in places with yellow. 
Bill, upper- mandible red, lower mandible blackish ; iris 
pale yellow ; legs and feet dusky slate colour or greenish. 
Dimensions are very variable : length about 15 ; wing 6°3 ; 
tail 9; tarsus ‘6; bill from cere °85. 
Distribution.—The most abundant species over the greater 
part of the low-country, except in the wet zone ; it is not 
found at any great elevation. It occurs throughout India ; 
and ranges through Pegu to Cochin-China. 
Habits, &c.—Found in flocks about villages and in open 
lands or scrub jungle near coconuts. Like the last species, 
it roosts in dense flocks in coconut groves, and is very noisy 
when flymg home in the evening. 
The breeding season is from Christmas time to about 
April. Four or five white eggs are laid in a hole in a tree. 
Ceylon eggs appear to be smaller than Indian, two in my 
collection measure 1°15 by °85. 
a 6(5)20 
