THS RED-HEADED GUINEA PARRAKEET. 63 



3. The Borneo Parrakeet ; Psittacus erythrocephalus Borneus, LiNNiEUs • 

 Perruche a tete rouge de pscher de Borneo ; Der RothkOpfige Sittich aus 

 Borneo, Bechstein. 



The upper mandible is red, the under black, the membrane 

 ash-coloured, the iris the same; the whole head is peacn- 

 blossom, with a green tint on the forehead ; there is a black 

 line between the eyes, near the membrane of the beak ; another 

 extends from the lower mandible obliquely on each side of the 

 neck, widening on the back. The upper part of tlie body to 

 the tail is light green, shading to light yellow towards the 

 middle of the wing-coverts ; all the under part from the chin 

 is peach blossom, tinged with chestnut colour ; the feathers of 

 the thighs, the tail-coverts, and the middle of the belly, are 

 green; the feathers of the tail are the same, but the centre 

 ones are rather brown, and all are spotted with white. 



Observations. — This parrakeet, so easily distinguished by its plumage, 

 is lively, fearful, and its cry is frequent. It learns nothing of itself, and 

 it is with great difficulty that it can be made to repeat a few words. I 

 have seen it, with the preceding and following species, among the beautiful 

 collection of birds belonging to his Highness the Duke of Meiningen. 



THE RED-HEADED GUINEA PARRAKEET. 



Psittacus Manillensis, Bechstein ; Perruche k collier couleur de rose, Bdffon; 

 Der Maiiilische Sittich, Bechstein. 



This beautiful species, whose colours are soft and the feathers 

 thick and silky, is hardly larger than the thrush, though its 

 length is from fourteen to fifteen inches, two-thirds of which 

 are included in the tail. The naked membrane is flesh-coloured, 

 the eyelids very red. The plumage is, in general, light green. 

 From the black throat there extends a ring round the neck, 

 which is black at first, and afterwards pale rose colour ; the 

 back of the neck in old birds has a blue tint. 



In the female the black of the throat is not so wide, there is 

 no rose-coloured ring, and the under part of the body more 

 nearly approaches yellow. 



Observations. — This species, whicli is very mild, tame, and beautiful, is 

 a native of the Philippines, particularly Manilla ; some say that it is also 

 very common in Africa. It is very pleasing, certainly, but rarely learns to 

 speak, and then only a few words. It must be treated like other delicate 

 Bpecies. 



