74 ZOOLOGY OF INDIA. 



black patch which, occupying the fore-part of the tbraar, 

 extends laterally in two narrow processes on each side of 

 the neck ; ^ black line extends from the base of the beak 

 to the eyes ; and there is a deep purplish-red patch at the 

 base of the wings. Its bill is larger than that of the rose- 

 coloured paroquet {PalcBornis torquatus), whiA, however, 

 in general it greatly resembles. It is of rarer occurrence 

 than the last-named species, and is not so easily domesticated. 

 It may, however, be taught to speak with tolerable distinct- 

 ness. The P. torqxmfiis is widely spread over India, and 

 as far to the eastward as Manilla. It appears indeed to be 

 identical with another species extremely abundant on the 

 African coasts, and well known in France under the title 

 of Perniche de Senegal. In as far as any conclusion can 

 be drawn from the vague and brief descriptions handed down 

 by ancient writers, it would appear that the present species 

 was, as it still corttinues to be, more frequent in the days 

 of antiquity than any of its congeners. No allusion is made 

 to those specific marks' by which the Alexandrine paroquet 

 is so clearly distinguished, and the general sketch applies 

 very closely to the rose-necked kind. " That the species 

 before us," says Mr. Bennet, " was extensively known, and 

 held in high estimation on account of the brilliancy of its- 

 plumage, the docility of its manners, and its iniitative 

 powers of voice, is proved by innumerable passages in the 

 classical writers of Rome, more especially from the earliest 

 times of the empire, to a very late period of its annals."* 



The singular poem of " Speake-parrot," written by John 

 Skelton, an English poet who flourished in the time of 

 Henry VIII., no doubt alluded to the P. torquatus. 



" My name is parrot, a bird of paradise, 

 By nature deuised of a wondrous kynd, 

 Dienteli dieted with diuers delicate "spice, 

 Tyl Euphrates that floud driueth me into Inde, 

 Where men of that countrey bi fortune me find, 

 And send me to great ladyes of estate. 

 Then parrot must haue an almon or a date. 



" A cage curiously caruen, with siluer pin, 

 Properly painted, to he my couenowre, 

 A myrror of glasse, tljat I may lok therein ; 

 There maidens ful mekely w^ih iiiany a diuers flour, ' 

 Freshly they dresse, and make sweie my boWre, 



* Zoological Gardens, vol.ii. p. 96. 



