EXTRACTS FROM AN ANONYMOUS JOURNAL. 69 



The Chandana* is found in the forests of Northern and 

 Central India, including Nepal, Bhutan, the Punjab &c. 

 It is said that a parrot of this species was taken to 

 Europe by Alexander the Great and hence the bird is 

 sometimes called the " Alexandrine Parrakeet." 



The Tiya ( Tota Pakshi) or the Ring-necked Parra- 

 keet,! is one of the most common and familiar birds 

 in all parts of India, from the foot of the Himalayas to the 

 extreme south extending to Ceylon. They are more 

 commonly found near towns and villages, than in thick 

 forests. While we were staying at Monghyr during the last 

 winter, we saw vast flocks of this parrot roosting to- 

 gether every night with other grain-eating birds in a 

 small mango tope ; and the noise they made at sunset 

 and sunrise was indeed deafening. I am not sure 

 whether other birds did it or not, but on several occa- 

 sions I saw the parrots bringing, at day time, ears of 

 Indian corn to their roosting place, probably to devour 

 at leisure, and unmolested by others. It is customary 

 with every grocer of every rank in India, especially in 

 Bengal, to have a parrot as a pet to enliven his solitude ; 

 and whether from choice or accident, in nine cases out 

 of ten this pet happens to be a Ring-necked Parrakeet. 

 He spends much time and trouble upon its education, 

 teaching it to repeat the names of Radha and Krishna 

 or Kali and Doorga according as he is a Vaishnava or 

 a Shakta. In spite of his well-meaning attention to 



* Palaeornis nepalensis, Hodg. 

 t Palaeornis torquatus, Vigors. 



