140 BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 



median coverts nearest the body red,, forming a most conspicuous spot ; 

 central tail-feathers greenish at base, blue on the remainder and tipped 

 yellowish ; the other feathers green on the outer web and yellow on the 

 inner. 



The female differs in wanting the black on the chin and throat and the 

 stripe on the sides of the neck ; the peach-rose collar and the glaucous 

 tinge on the nape are also wanting. The red patch on the wing is also 

 smaller. 



Iris bright yellow ; cere yellow ; bill bright red, the tip yellow ; eyelids 

 pale pink, the edges orange ; legs orange-yellow. Female the same. 



Length 22 inches, tail 13, wing 8*4, tarsus '7, bill from gape 1'2. The 

 female is rather smaller. 



The Large Paroquets of India and Burmah have been subdivided into 

 four species, each based on trivial differences in size and coloration. P. 

 eupatrius, the smallest race, inhabits Ceylon -, P. magnirostris, the largest, 

 is found in the Andaman Islands ; and P. nipalensis, an intermediate race, 

 in Northern India. Typical examples of the Burmese race differ in having 

 the base of the throat yellowish, the nape and sides of the head of the same 

 colour as the crown, and the mandibular stripes narrow ; they are, more- 

 over, to be recognized by their very large size, in which respect they equal 

 P. magnirostris , but the bill is very much smaller than in that species. It 

 seems very doubtful whether these races or species are worthy of retention ; 

 but for the present it is convenient perhaps to keep the Burmese bird under 

 Mr. Hume's name. 



The Large Burmese Paroquet is found over a great portion of British 

 Burmah, and is usually abundant ; but Mr. Davison did not observe it in 

 Tenasserim south of Amherst, nor Capt. Bingham in the Thoungyeen 

 valley. 



To the east it extends to Cochin China, where Dr. Tiraud states that this 

 race is common ; and to the north it is diffused over the Indo-Burmese 

 countries, ranging into India as far as Sikhim. 



This Paroquet occurs in small flocks, and is usually seen in plains and 

 the outskirts of cultivation where large trees abound. It does not ascend 

 the hills to any great height, nor is it to be met with in dense forests. Its 

 cry is very loud. Like all the other Paroquets, it feeds on fruit and grain, 

 and also at times eats buds. It breeds in January and February, excava- 

 ting a hole for itself in the trunk or a large branch of some lofty tree, and 

 laying therein three white eggs. 



