132 THE WHISKERED PARROT. 



of Botany Bay ; they are unfortunately wild, timid, and difficult 

 to teach. They have a chirping note, which is, however, rarely 

 heard. As with the Amboina Parrots, their feathers are so 

 loose as to come off if only touched. They require similar 

 treatment with other birds of the same species, but are deli- 

 cate, and need great care. 



32. THE WHISKERED PARROT. 



Psittacus Bimaculatus, SPAR. Perruche a moustache. Ler Zweiflechige 

 Sittich, BECH. 



Description. This beautiful bird is one foot two inches in 

 length, of which the tail measures about one half ; it is there- 

 fore about the size of a Turtle-dove, and very slender. The 

 beak is large, orange or pale blood red, tipped and bordered 

 with a paler hue. The naked membrane is flesh-coloured, 

 tinged with blue, and has a deep indentation ; the iris, as well 

 as the naked eyelids, is light yellow ; the feet ashen grey. 

 The head is light ashen grey, the top of it tinged with red ; 

 a narrow band across the forehead is black ; the forehead itself 

 pale yellow. The cheeks, from the root of the beak to the 

 throat, are covered by an almost triangular black spot. The 

 whole upper part of the body is grass green, the feathers having 

 black quills. In the middle of the wing coverts is a greenish 

 yellow spot ; the pen feathers are blackish, but on the outer 

 plume green, with a sulphur-coloured edge. The under part of 

 the body is a dark rose colour ; the sides under the wings yel- 

 lowish green ; the shanks, rump, and seat green. The tail is 

 also green ; the two middle feather two inches longer than the 

 others, the upper half being of a blueish tint, and tipped with 

 dark green. A variety of this bird has a black beak. 



The female, or what is supposed to be so, is a pale orange 

 red on the forehead, throat, and sides of the head and neck. 

 From the corners of the mouth to the throat, runs a black oval 

 stripe. The nape of the neck, shoulders, back, rump, and 

 upper side of the tail are grass green ; breast, belly, and seat 

 a brighter tinge of the same colour. 



Observations. This is a very docile and talkative Parrot, of 

 great tameness, and engaging and affectionate manners. Its 

 cry is " Gaie, Gaie." It is a native of the South Sea Islands 

 and Botany Bay. 



