230 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



The Sub-Family, PSITTACIN-SI, or Parrots, 



have the bill more or less large, broad at the base, and the 

 sides corapressefi, with the cuiraen much arched to the tip, 

 which is acute and prolonged, the lateral margins dentated 

 or festooned ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and rounded ; the 

 wings more or less long and pointed ; the tail usually short 

 and squared ; the tarsi short, and covered with small scales ; 

 the toes moderate.* 



459. Psittacus Levaillantii, Latham ; P. Fh,- 



mmiceps, Bechst. ; P. Fuscicollis, Kuhl ; P. Infua- 

 catus, Shaw, Vol. VIII., p. 523 ; Pionus Levaillantii, 

 Wagl. Mon. Paitt. ; Psittacus Rohustus, Gmel. ; P. 

 Gaffer, Licht. ; Piroquet a Franges Souci, Le Vail., 

 Tab. 130 and 131. 



Head, npck, and throat, brownish green ; wings, and back 

 batween the shoulders, dark-green ; back and rump, bright 

 grass green ; belly, thighs, and under tail-coverts the same ; 

 upper portion of outer edge of wing, and knees, brilliant 

 orange-red ; between the eye and the bill a black spot. 

 Length, 12"; wing, 8"; tail, 3" 6'". 



Inhabits the forests of the Eastern frontier, the Knysna, and the 

 Zuurberg. Le Vaillant states that they breed in hollow trees, and lay 

 four white eggs, about the size of those of pigeons. It is apparently a 

 scarce bird, and rather difficult to obtain, as but few specimens have 

 reached my hands : these have all been from the Knysna and the 

 forests of the Eastern frontier seaboard. 



Genus PSITTACULA, Brisson. 



Bill large, rather compressed at the sides, with the culmen 

 much arched to the tip, which is prolonged and acute ; the 

 lateral margins festooned ; the nostrils basal, lateral, rounded ; 

 wings reaching to the end of the tail, and pointed ; with the 

 first and second quills nearly equal and longest ; tail short 

 and even, with the ends of the feathers truncated or pointed; 

 tarsi very short, and covered with small scales ; toes long, 

 with the lateral outer toes equal, and all covered with small 

 scales. 



* Many parrots have been accidentally introduced into South Africa in the neigh- 

 bourliood of Cape Town, having escaped from confinement. Some of these are now 

 breeding here : among them may be mentioned Palteontis Torquatvs. 



