THE RED CRESCENTED PARRAKEET. 133 



33. THE ROSE -RINGED PARRAZEET. 



Psittacus Manittensis, BECH. Varietas Psittaci Alexandri, LIN. Per- 

 ruche a collier couleur de rose, BUF. Der rosennackige Sittich, BECH. 



Description. This very beautiful Parrot, remarkable for the 

 .softness of its colours and the silkiness of its plumage, is about 

 the size of a Missel Thrush. Its total length, including the 

 tail, which makes up at least two thirds, is fourteen or fifteen 

 inches. The two centre tail feathers are three inches and a 

 half longer than the exterior ones. The beak is three quarters 

 of an inch long, strong, very much curved, and crimson on the 

 uppar side ; below blackish blue. The membrane of the beak 

 is flesh-coloured ; the eyelids bright red ; the iris white, with 

 a blueish tinge ; the feet greyish brown. The plumage is gene- 

 rally light green ; darker on the upper part of the body, and 

 in the lower almost yellow. From the black throat a band, 

 which is first black and then pale rose colour, extends round the 

 head ; and in old birds the nape of the neck has a blue tinge. 

 There is a darker shade on the wing coverts and the scapulars, 

 and the edges of the pen feathers are also darker. The rump, 

 the tail coverts, as well as the first four side feathers of the 

 tail itself, are greenish yellow ; the two centre feathers, how- 

 ever, from the middle to the tip, which is dark green, are a 

 greenish blue. The black on the throat of the female is not 

 so extensive, nor has it the rose-coloured neck band. The 

 under part of the body also is more inclined to yellow. 



Observations. This beautiful, tame, and very attractive bird 

 is a native of the Philippine Islands, particularly of Manilla, 

 though often found also in Africa. It may be treated like 

 other Parrots, but very rarely learns to speak. 



34. THE RED CRESCENTED PARRAKEET. 

 Psittacus LunatuS) BECH. Der Schildkragen Sittich, BECH. 

 Description. This bird, somewhat larger than a Turtle- 

 dove, is eleven inches and a half in length, of which the wedge- 

 shaped tail measures six inches, and the beak one inch. The 

 latter, which is very much curved, and provided with a sharp 

 tooth on the upper mandible, is whitish, tipped with horn- 

 brown. The circle of the eyes is small, bald, and greyish flesh 

 colour ; the iris a bright yellowish red ; the feet, dark ashen 

 grey. The forehead is crimson, as well as a crescent-shaped 



