CHAPTER XLI. 



Reel-fronted 



I HIS is another very nice bird, which I am sorry to 

 hear is becoming rather scarce in its own country, 

 and is, consequently, but seldom imported now. Like 

 the rest of the Parrots and Parrakeets that have their 

 home in the " Southern Britain", this species is mainly 

 terrestrial in its habits, hence its tarsi are long and it 

 hops and runs on the ground with much grace and 

 agility, but it is an indifferent percher. It has a curious 

 trick of scratching with its feet on the ground after 

 the manner of the Gallinacese. 



The general colour of the plumage is bright grass- 

 green, but the flights are dark blue and there is a 

 narrow band of vivid scarlet across the forehead just 

 beyond the insertion of the upper mandible. In size it 

 about equals the Rosella, but its tail is longer and 

 more pointed. 



There is so very little difference in outward appear- 

 rance between the sexes, that it is difficult to pick out 

 a pair from among a number of these birds ; however, 



