

PSITTACIDJE. 



PSITTACIDA 



VBb brown ; secondaries crowd by a broad band of yellow, which is 

 coottowd, but much narrower, CTOM some of the primaries ; breast, 

 ail the under surface, lower port of the back, and the Uil-covcrU, fine 

 nab green; two centre Uil-feathen deep blue at the baie, pawing into 

 deep green at the tip ; the remainder of the Uil-feathen bright yellow, 

 tipped with dark green ; bill horn-colour at the bate, passing into pale 

 yellow at the Up ; feet flesh-colour. 



The Female differs in being lew brilliant in all her marking*, and in 

 baring the blue ipoU on the throat lew defined and irregular in form. 

 Touneogth 74 inches. (Gould, ' Birdi of Australia.') 



It is found in the interior of New South Wales. 



Captain Sturt (Uncovered thia tpeciat in great abundance in the 

 interior of New South Walea. He informed Mr. Qould that on the 

 extensive plain* bordering the Murumbidgce he mot with it in 

 itnmn flocks, feeding upon the seeds and berries of the low stunted 

 buihea called scrubs. Mr. Qould also received several from Mr. Coxen, 

 which the latter had procured to the north of Hunter's Hivcr. Mr. 

 Gould adds that they are quick and active, and run on the ground 

 with great facility, much after the manner of the true Platycrrci, or 

 Ground ParrakeeU, to which he ia of opinion they are closely allied. 



Tridwglomu (Lorikeets). Hill somewhat elongated, rather com- 

 preweJ ; lower mandible nearly straight, the margin entire, longer 

 than it is high : tongue furnished below with many marginal bristles 

 at the apex. Wings moderate ; first quill longest, second and third a 

 little shorter; web* entire. Feet rather short; tarsi somewhat 

 covered with the femoral feathers ; aeroUrsi a little feathered below 

 the knee ; toes rather strong, depressed ; claws strong, falcate. Tail 

 graduated ; the tail-feathers rather narrower at the apex. (Vigors.) 

 It is a native of Australia. 



The natural and acquired habits of the species of this genus require 

 some notice. Mr. Caley informs us that the Blue-Mountain Parrot, 

 War' tin of the natives (T. htematodut), it remarkable for its docility 









and attachment to some people, whilit it is a perfect scold to othen 



rbo may have Uasod or offended it. " Flock* of these birds," says 



is accurate observer, "may be teen in the Eucalypti trees when in 



wer, in different parU of the country, but in the greatest number 



near their breeding places. It does not eat any kind of grain, even 



wbsn in a domesticated state. It is much subject to fiU, which 



generally prove fatal; and it is rare to find an individual kept alive 



above a couple of yean. One that I kept, on being shown a figure of 



f-f^T" p l* nl ' tu * d to P ut iu iaa ae * t" 8 fl"rs, as if with the 

 toot of rocking them ; and I have seen it make the some attempt 

 h a j,iece of cotton furniture. The flesh of this bird is very good 



ating. Again, .poking of the Crimson-Fronted Parrakeet, Coolich 

 f the natives (T. ewcin-w), Mr. Caley sUtos that it may bo observed 



TO^FJ^IL o ""* "" **l*l* flo "- He adds that, like the 

 Wue-aounuh, Parrot, it is subject to fit., which generally prove fatal, 

 Utathhwldomkept alive, and that iu breath, or some part about 

 d, smite a very sweet odour. The natives told him that this 

 speeiM breed* in the hollow boughs of tree., scmpinz out the decayed 

 nould.aad nuking iU nest of it Th. sggs, he iUrms us , ar. grin, 



without spots, and the number of young two. Of the Small Parrakeet, 

 Jerryang of the natives (T. piuMtu), ho observes that this, like the 

 Coolich, ia seen in very large flocks in the Eucalypti trees when in 

 blossom. " The natives," says he, " now aud then bring in the young 

 ones, but they seldom live long. 1 bod throe young ones for some 

 time, which used to huddle together, and give out a very pleasing note. 

 They all died, strongly convulsed, and nearly at the same time ; the 

 limbs were as stiff the moment life was extinct as if the body had 

 become cold. The natives tell me that it builds in the hollow limbs 

 of trees, making no other nest than of the decayed wood. It has four 

 young ones. The eggs are white, and without spot." 



Mr. Caley also learned from the natives that the nest of this species, 

 of the Ground Parrot (.\ymphictu mdckdliu), of the Dulang (Platy- 

 arciu Pennaatii), and of the Coolich (T, coitciniuw), smell very strong 

 and offensive of dung. 



T. hctmatodiu, Tig. (T. Svaintonii, Jardine and Selby). Green 

 Head, middle of the body, and bonds on the sides, azure-blue ; throat, 

 breast, and flanks, orange-crimson. (Sw.) 



Zoritu. The true Lories are remarkable for the elongated and weak 

 form of the bill, and also for a formation of the tongue, similar to that 

 in TricltoyloMiu. [See, col. 476.J They ore inhabitants of the islands 

 of the east, and are considered by Mr. Vigors to be the aberrant 

 group of the family. Their colours are of the most rich and mellow 

 description, and the birds are highly prized, not only for their beauti- 

 ful plumage, but for their lively, active, and affectionate disposition, 

 and their great docility iu the articulation of words and even sentences. 

 The genus has the following characters : Bill elongated, weak. Wings 

 pointed, two first quills longest Tail moderate, rounded or graduated; 

 the feathers brood, and hardly narrow at their tips. 



L. Domicclla. Rich scarlet ; upon the upper part of the breast a 

 yellow collar ; crown of the head blackish-purple in front, passing into 

 violet-purple behind ; upper surface of the wings green, violet-blue at 

 the bend and margins, as ore the under wing-coverU; thighs externally 

 azure, greenish at the base; bill orange-yellow. Length between 11 

 and 12 inches. 



It is a native of the Moluccas and other Eastern islands. 





r<i.* ""^-^ 



Dnmicdla. 



The Plyctolophina, or Cockatoos, aro natives of Australia and the 

 Indian Islands, inhabiting the woods, and feeding upon seeds and soft 

 and stony fruits, which last their powerful bill enables them to break 

 with ease. Like others of their congeners, they make their nests in 

 decayed trees, and are easily tamed when taken at an early age. They 

 become familiar and even attached, but their imitative powers seldom 

 go beyond a very few words, added to their own cry of Cockatoo.' 



Plgctolopluu, (True Cockatoos). Bill strong, short, very broad; 

 culmen much curved; head with a folding crest; base of the under 

 mandible frequently concealed by feathers. Wings long; secondaries, 

 tortiories, and the tail-feathers sometimes mucronate. 



/'. galeritut, Crested Cockatoo (White). White ; crest, and internal 

 webs of the lateral Uil-feathen, yellow; under wing-coverts sul- 

 phureous. 



It is found in Australia. 



Mr. Calcy's notes contain the following observations on the Crested 

 Cockatoo: "This bird is called by the natives Car'away, and also 

 Curriang. I have mat with it in large flocks at the conflux of the 

 Grose and Hawkesbury river*, below Mulgo'ey on the former river, 



