THE ROSE-RINGED PAROQUET. 141 



523. PALJEORNIS TORQUATUS, 

 THE ROSE-RINGED PAROQUET. 



Psittacus torquatus, Bodd. Tall PL Enl p. 32. Palaeornis torquatus, Jerd. B. 

 2nd. i. p. 257 ; Finsch, Die Papayeien, ii. p. 17 ; Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 116 ; id. 

 S. F. ii. p. 13; Wald. Ibis, 1874, p. 282; Bl. B. Burm. p. 55 ; Hume, S. F. iii. 

 p. 56; Wardlaw Ramsay, Ibis, 1877, p. 453; Gates, S. F. v. p. 144 ; Leyye, 

 Birds Ceylon, p. 171 ; Hume $ JDav. S. F. vi. p. 118; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 86; 

 Scully, S. F. viii. p. 240 ; Oates, S. F. x. p. 189. 



Description. Male. Forehead, crown, nape and sides of the head green, 

 the hinder part of the head with a bluish tinge ; a fine black line from the 

 nostril to the eye ; chin and throat black, produced upwards as a semi- 

 collar 011 the sides of the neck ; a pinkish-red collar encircling the whole 

 neck except in front ; remainder of the plumage green, darkest on the 

 wings, paler and tinged with yellow on the lower plumage ; central tail- 

 feathers dull blue, tipped with yellowish ; the others yellow on the inner 

 webs and greenish on the outer ; all the feathers tipped with yellow. 



The female wants the black loral line, and the black and pinkish-red 

 collars as well as the black on the chin and throat are absent ; the whole 

 plumage is green, of the same tinge as in the male ; an indistinct collar of 

 emerald-green round the neck. 



Bill red, brownish at tip ; cere grey ; legs ashy ; iris pale yellow ; edges 

 of the eyelids pale orange ; claws horn-colour. The female has the same 

 colours. 



Length 16'5 inches, tail 10, wing 6*8, tarsus '55, bill from gape '8. 

 The female is a little smaller. 



The Rose-ringed Paroquet is abundant over the greater part of Pegu ; 

 but Dr. Armstrong does not note it from the Irrawaddy Delta, and possibly 

 it does not occur in that portion of the Division ; it is, however, abundant 

 near Rangoon. Capt. Wardlaw Ramsay met witli it on the Karin hills 

 east of Tonghoo, and states that it was rare in that part of the country. 

 Mr. Davison and Capt. Bingham did not observe it in any part of Tenas- 

 serim, which is remarkable, for it extends to the east as far as Cochin 

 China, where Dr. Tiraud states that it is quite common. I can find no 

 instance of its occurring in Arrakan ; but it is likely to be very abundant 

 in the plains 'of that Division. 



It extends through the Indo-Burrnese countries, and is found over the 

 whole peninsula of India and Ceylon. It is stated to have occurred in the 

 Malay peninsula, but probably without foundation. A Paroquet which 

 inhabits the greater part of the African continent is said to be identical 

 with the present species ; but I have not had an opportunity of testing the 

 correctness of this assertion. 



