82 PSITTACID^E. 



Order PSITTACI. 



Family PSITTACID^E. 



Palaeornis eupatrius (Linn.) *. The Rose-band Paroquet. 



Palreornis alexandri (Linn.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 256. 



Palaeornis sivalensis, Ilutton, Hume, Rough Draft N. fy E. no. 147. 



The Hose-band Paroquet breeds in the Kangra Valley in April, 

 laying four eggs in large holes in trees, excavated by the birds 

 themselves. Though I have found plenty of nests with young, I 

 have never taken the egg myself, and owe this information to 

 Major Cock. 



An egg of this species, taken by him, was a very long oval, very 

 much pointed towards one end, white, a good deal soiled, and with 

 little or no gloss. It measured 1*52 by O95 inch. 



Of this species Captain Hutton remarks: "Towards the end 

 of January and beginning of February, it begins to cut a circular 

 hole in some tree wherein to lay its eggs, which are usually two in 

 number and pure white. The tree generally in request for this 

 purpose is the semul or cotton-tree (Bombax heptaphyllum and 

 malabaricum), although, sometimes, even the hard-wooded sal 

 (Shorea robusta) is chosen ; the entrance-hole is a neatly-cut circle, 

 either in the trunk or in some thick upright branch. The trees 

 selected by these birds are not situated in the depths of the forests, 

 but are detached on the outskirts, and, what is curious in such a 

 quarrelsome bird, there are often three or four nests in the same 

 tree. The eggs are hatched in about twenty-one days, and in the 

 middle of March the young birds are about half-fledged and are 

 then removed for sale." 



Mr. F. Field, writing from Goojrat, in the Punjab, on the 29th 

 March, says: "I do not know if there is any record of this 

 Paroquet breeding in these parts ; so I write to let you know that 

 this morning I found a nest of a pair that had built in a hole in 

 an old bakhaiu tree. 



" There were four well-grown young birds, quite unmistakable 

 Alexandrines, about two weeks old. I saw the old male sitting out- 

 side the hole, aud the old female came out as the boy was swarming 

 up the tree. I regret I did not find the nest in time to procure the 

 eggs, but I hope to be more fortunate next year." 



Mr. Gr. Reid, writing from Lucknow, tells us : "I have had 

 the young brought to me in February and March. On one occa- 



* Forthe purpose of this work it is convenient to unite all the races of tins 

 large Paroquet under one name. E. 



