156 FOREIGN FINCHES IN CAPTIVITY. 



aggressive and quarrelsome during the nesting-season ; therefore, can 

 only be safely kept in pairs, and bred in spacious cages. 



THE PARROT FINCH. 



Erythrura psittacea, GMEL. 



A LOVELY little bird and an inhabitant of New Caledonia. Coming 

 from this remote locality, it naturally commands so high a price, 

 that it is only within the reach of fairly well-to-do amateurs. Whether 

 it will ever be imported in sufficient numbers to enable the less 

 wealthy purchaser to add it to his collection, seems doubtful. The 

 adult male above is bright grass green, including the upper wing- 

 coverts and inner secondaries ; the remaining flight feathers are dull 

 brown, with greenish edges, those of the primaries being yellower ; 

 the hinder back, upper tail coverts, forehead, eyebrow, sides of face, 

 ear-coverts, throat and front of neck carmine red ; remainder of body 

 below grass-green ; tail feathers blackish, with dull crimson margins ; 

 under wing coverts pale yellow ; nights below dusky, with yellowish 

 along the inner webs. Length 4^ inches. Beak brownish black, feet 

 smoky brown ; iris dark brown. Sexes almost alike. 



Dr. Russ says : " Wiener, in 1877, came into possession of three 

 examples, which soon made themselves at home in a large flight- cage, 

 and appeared sprightly and sociable, more agile and graceful than the 

 allied species (The Pin-tailed Nonpareil). They also soon built a nest; 

 Laying, four eggs ; incubated and fledged four young. Nest in a high- 

 hanging Hartz cage with entrance hole, of aloe fibres, with deep 

 overarched cup. Several broods followed in succession. Young plumage 

 pale greenish-brown, without red colouring on the head and breast ; 

 only faint red at the base of the beak; beak yellow, feet bright 

 yellowish grey. At the age of about three months ; scarlet-red dots 

 on the head, throat and breast, which became more distinct from week 

 to week. Mr. Wiener sent a young one of the first brood to the 



