92 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



the same applies to Continental Asia. The most 

 abundant Asiatic species is the green Ring-necked 

 Parrakeet {Palceornis torquatus) of India and 

 adjoining countries, the only one of the family 

 which comes into towTis ; a scarcely distinguishable 

 race of this {P. docilis) extends across Africa, so 

 it may claim to be the commonest of the family, 

 and is, besides, a familiar cage-bird. The Rosella 

 [Platycercus eximius), a species about the size of 

 a dove, and exhibiting all the colours of the rain- 

 bow, is a very familiar Australian bird, and breeds 

 in captivity. In New Zealand, the mountain- 

 haunting Kea {Nestor notahilis), a bird about the 

 size of a crow, olive-green, with a long bill, has 

 attained notoriety by its attacks on sheep ; this 

 and the forest-haunting brown Kaka (A^. 

 meridionalis) form a group by themselves. The 

 most familiar of the Cockatoos are the Rose- 

 breasted or Galah [Cacatua roseicapilla) , about 

 as large as a wood-pigeon, with a grey back, and 

 the large white Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (C. 

 galerita), both Australian. The Lories are less 

 familiar ; but one, the Blue Mountain Lorikeet 

 [Trichoglossus novcB-zealandice), of the size of 

 a dove, with purple head, flame-coloured breast, 

 and green upper parts, is familiar both wild in 

 Australia and in captivity. 



Passerine Birds {PasseridcB). 



Diagnosis. — Birds with the hind-toe and claw as large 

 as, and usually larger than, any of the front ones. 



Size. — From about three inches long to the size of a 

 fowl. 



Form. — Bill very variously formed, but with the nostrils 

 near the base and the corner of mouth below front 



