Parrots. 239 



AUSTRALIAN LOVE BIRDS, and are consequently 

 confounded with the true Love Birds, which are very 

 different : little round birds, with the shortest of fan- 

 shaped tails. The common BRAZILIAN LOVE BIRD 

 (Psittacula passerind) is grass green, with the under 

 side of the wings blue, and a patch of blue on the back. 

 The AFRICAN LOVE BIRD (Agapornis or Psittacula 

 pullarid) is somewhat larger, has the bill, forehead, 

 cheeks, and throat red ; and a red tail, barred with 

 black, and tipped with green. The MADAGASCAR 

 LOVE BIRD (Psittacula cand) is now becoming com- 

 mon in England. The male is distinguished by its 

 beautiful pearl-grey head, which in the hen is more 

 dingy. They are very pretty, lively birds, and bear 

 cold well, but not damp. They breed readily in con- 

 finement. There are many other species : they all 

 live upon canary-seed, and do not require a large cage. 

 They are never happy apart, and sit as close as pos- 

 sible together, continually fondling and caressing each 

 other. 



