37G 



BIRDS. PSITTACIDJE. 



moustache-like black streaks, running obliquely back- 

 wards from the base of the lower mandible, but not 

 encircling the neck. The primary quills of the wings 

 are bordered with blue ; and the two centre feathers of 

 the tail, which in this, as in the other species of the 

 genus are a good deal longer than the rest, are of an 

 azure colour. This handsome bird is a native of 

 Malacca, where it is said by Sir Stamford Eaffles to 

 figure in the fables and poems of the natives as a being 

 endowed with a supernatural degree of intelligence. 

 It is also met with in the eastern islands, and is not 

 uncommon in some parts of Borneo. 



BAEBABAND'S PABBOQUET (Palceornis Barrabandi) 

 is an Australian species, very nearly allied to the pre- 

 ceding, with which it agrees in size, and in the general 

 green colour of its plumage. It has the forehead, the 

 lower part of the cheeks, and the front of the neck of a 

 rich yellow, bordered beneath by a broad band of red ; 

 the primaries are blue. 



PENNANT'S PABEOQUET (Platycercus Pennantii). 

 ThePlatycerci, which are peculiar to Australia and New 

 Guinea, resemble the preceding species in their elon- 

 gated tails, but have this part broader and rounded at 

 the tip. The present species is an inhabitant of New 

 South Wales, where it is generally dispersed on the 

 grassy hills and brushes. The general colour of its 

 plumage is a rich deep crimson ; but the centre of each 

 feather* of the back and scapulars is black, leaving only 

 a rather broad red border ; the cheeks are blue ; the 

 quill-feathers of the wings are black, bordered with 

 blue externally ; the two centre tail-feathers are green 

 with blue margins, and the remainder have their inner 

 webs black, and their outer webs deep blue, for the 

 greater part of their length, the tips of the feathers being 

 a paler blue. Its length is rather more than fifteen 

 inches. It is an abundant and beautiful species, but, 

 from its congregating in large flocks and exhibiting a 

 predilection for the grain crops of the colonists, it under- 

 goes a considerable amount of persecution. Its flesh 

 is said to be very good eating. In its movements this 

 species is active and lively, and it walks upon the 

 ground with great ease ; this, indeed, is the case with 

 most of the Australian parroquets. 



THE NEW HOLLAND CEESTED PAEEOQUET (Calo- 

 psitta Novce Hollandice'), a small and elegant species, 

 measuring about twelve inches in total length, is not 

 distinguished by any brilliancy of plumage, its general 

 colour being a pale olive-brown ; but it has the whole 

 of the head bright yellow, with a large crimson spot on 

 each cheek, and the crown is adorned with a most 

 graceful crest of long yellow feathers. It is an exceed- 

 ingly abundant species in some parts of New South 

 Wales, and seeks its food upon the ground, walking 

 with great facility. 



THE HOENED PAEEOQUET (Xymphicus cornutus), 

 an inhabitant of New Caledonia, is remarkable for 

 having, springing from the crown of the head, a pair 

 of slender dusky feathers, about an inch and a half 

 long, with crimson tips ; its general colour is green, 

 with the head orange-red, and the wings and tail blue- 

 black. The length of this species is about eleven 

 inches. 



THE KING PAEEOQUET (Aprosmictus scapulatus), 



an inhabitant of New South Wales, dwells principally 

 in the brushes, where it generally finds sufficient nour- 

 ishment in the shape of fruits and seeds, but on the 

 ripening of the Indian corn crops, descends upon these 

 in great flocks, and often occasions a great deal of 

 damage. It has the head, neck, and lower surface 

 scarlet, the back and wings green, the rump and upper 

 tail-coverts deep blue, the tail black, and the bill 

 scarlet, 



THE GEOUND PAEEOQUET (Pezoporus formosus). 

 Although the Australian parroquets in general are 

 adapted, by the length of their tarsi and the general 

 structure of their feet, for walking and running with 

 facility upon the ground, where indeed they generally 

 seek the seeds which constitute their principal food, 

 there are some, forming the genera Pezoporus, Nanodes, 

 and Melo2)siltacus, which appear to be especially 

 organized for a terrestrial existence. Hence they are 

 commonly known as Ground and Grass Parroquets. 



The present species, which is a native of the southern 

 parts of Australia and of Van Diemen's Land, measures 

 rather more than twelve inches in length, including its 

 long pointed tail ; its plumage is of a lively green 

 colour above, elegantly spotted with black, whilst the 

 lower surface is variegated with delicate, undulated, 

 transverse bars of green, black, and yellow. At the 

 base of the upper mandible there is an orange-red 

 band. This charming little bird is met with some- 

 times in sandy barren districts covered with tufts of 

 grass and herbage, sometimes about swampy flats ; it 

 passes nearly the whole of its time upon the ground, is 

 never seen to perch, and when flushed takes a short 

 flight, and then alighting again, runs on until it finds 

 a place of safety. It even deposits its eggs on the 

 ground. Mr. Gould says that its flesh is excellent, 

 and much more delicate than that of the snipe. 



THE WABBLING GEASS PAEEOQUET (Melopsittacus 

 undulatus), a lovely little species, nearly allied to the 

 preceding, is found exclusively in the vast plains of 

 central Australia, where it occurs in great abundance, 

 flying in flocks of many hundreds, and feeding on the 

 seeds of the grasses with which those deserts are 

 clothed. The length of this species is about seven 

 inches ; the colour of its plumage above is olive-green, 

 delicately marked -with undulated black or dusky lines ; 

 the head and back of the neck are yellowish-green, 

 with a small azure patch upon each cheek ; the lower 

 surface is of a delicate yellowish-green colour ; the two 

 middle tail-feathers are green at the base, and blue at 

 the extremity, and the remainder are green, tinged 

 with yellow in the middle. 



Although there is nothing brilliant in the colouring 

 of this little parroquet, the general effect of its plumage 

 is highly pleasing, and, taken in conjunction with the 

 elegance of its form, renders it one of the most charm- 

 ing members of its tribe. It is also distinguished by 

 the possession of a soft warbling note, a sort of inward 

 song, and for this and its other good qualities, it has of 

 late years received much notice as a cage bird, its 

 manners in confinement being at once lively and affec- 

 tionate. When two or more are kept together, they 

 are continually engaged in mutual acts expressive of 

 fondness, sometimes billing like pigeons, sometimes 



