162 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 
revelation of vivid colour. The head, a patch under the 
tail, and the upper breast are scarlet, with the cheeks and 
throat pure white; the lower breast is yellow, and the 
back yellow and black; the wings and tail are rich 
purple-blue. The hen is nearly as bright as the cock, 
but has sometimesa green patch in the scarlet at the 
back of the head. The young show more of this, and 
are duller altogether, but still much resemble the 
parents, and cannot be mistaken for anything else. 
This splendid native of Australia has long been export- 
ed from that country, and has been often bred in capti- 
vity in Europe. It may frequently be obtained in 
Calcutta, but is rather dear. It bears captivity very 
well, and will live for years even in a cage, though an 
aviary is far more suitable for such active birds as 
are these broad-tailed Parakeets. In such an abode 
the Rosella is seen to great advantage, as it constantly 
flies about, exhibiting its brilliant colours, and often 
uttering a pleasant note. Caged specimens occasionally 
talk, but this can hardly be recommended as one of the 
regular talking Parrots. : 
Occasionally one may obtain in Calcutta two other 
very lovely Parakeets allied to the Rosella, and much 
resembling it. These are the Mealy Rosella (Platycercus 
pallidiceps), which has a delicate pale yellow colour 
where the common bird is red, on the head and upper 
‘breast, and the lower breast a beautiful blue ; and 
~Pennant’s Parakeet (Platycercus elegans) which is crimson 
‘and purple. The latter is a bigger bird than the other 
two, and almost entirely olive-green in its first plumage. 
