474 'The Cuckoo-like Birds 



through the Seychelles and Mauritius to India, Ceylon, and Cochin China, and 

 thence through the Malay Peninsula to the large islands adjacent. The plumage 

 is in general green, relieved in many species by a collar of rose-color, though 

 the species are divided into two groups on the color of the head, this in one being 

 entirely green, and in the other only partially or not at all of this hue. The 

 commonest and best-known Indian species is the Rose-ringed Parakeet (P. 

 torquata), the male of which attains a total length of sixteen or seventeen inches, 

 of which the tail takes up about ten inches. The general color is green both 

 above and below, the back part of the head with a tinge of blue, and the breast 

 tinged with gray, while, as the name implies, there is a collar of rose about the 

 neck except in front, and black stripes down and across the throat ; the central 

 tail-feathers are bluish and the others green and yellow. This species, Mr. 

 Blanford tells us, abounds about towns and villages in most parts of the country, 

 keeping mostly to the open and cultivated land. "It is often seen perched 

 on houses and buildings of various kinds, such as temples or structures about 

 fields and does much damage by pilfering grain and fruit. It occurs in large 

 flocks at times, and often collects in great numbers toward sunset and perches 

 for the night on trees near towns and villages, with Crows and Mynas, though 

 sometimes they perch on bamboos. The cry of this Parrot, often uttered during 

 the bird's swift arrowy flight, is shrill and rather harsh." The breeding season 

 extends from January to May, the three or sometimes four eggs being placed 

 in a hollow tree with little or no nest. These birds are easily domesticated, 

 becoming attached and familiar, and are usually to be seen in most native and 

 European houses. The other species, such for instance as the Blossom-headed 

 Parakeet (P. cyanocephala), are in general more forest-haunting in their habits, 

 and this particular one is said to have a softer and more musical cry. An- 

 other interesting species is the Bearded Parakeet (P. modes to) of the Indian 

 Archipelago. 



Love Birds. Those who have visited aviaries are doubtless familiar with 

 the pretty little Love Birds (Agapornis), which are so called from the affection 

 the sexes seem to show for each other, as they sit closely side by side with heads 

 and oftener bills in contact, each apparently the object of the other's loving 

 solicitude, though, if the truth must be told, there appears to be among them 

 an occasional Xanthippe, whose unfeathered prototype history tells us made 

 life miserable for Socrates. Such an unamiable "Love Bird," Mr. W. T. Greene, 

 the great authority on the Parrots, has told us about. The Love Birds, of which 

 nine species are now recognized, are natives of the Ethiopian region, though 

 a single one has been introduced into Reunion and other islands. They are 

 among the most diminutive members of the entire group, none exceeding six 

 and a half inches in length and several falling half an inch or more below this. 

 In addition to their small size they are distinguished by a thick, deep bill, which 

 is without a ridge or keel along the middle of the symphysis of the lower man- 

 dible, and by an extremely short tail, which is ornamented by a substantial band 

 of black. One of the best-known species is the handsome little Rosy-faced Love 

 Bird (A. roseicollis) of Southwest Africa, in which the general color is pale green, 



