Some Experiences of Mealy Bosellas.



171



“ During the interval which has elapsed between 1832, when

“ the Century of Birds was published, and the date 1853 at which

*' I now write, the great chain of the Himalayan and adjoining hills

“ which extend towards the Peninsula (the native country of P.

“ erythrocephala ) has been traversed by men whose love for natural

“ history has prompted to procure and send to Europe numerous

“ collections of the productions of those districts ; among them

“ many examples of both sexes of this beautiful species have been

“ sent; in order therefore to make known the female, I unhesita-

“ tingly give a new plate, comprising accurate representations of

“ both sexes.”


Any detailed description of the colouring of the sexes of this

Bullfinch is unnecessary with the extremely good coloured plate to

refer to, which gives a very accurate idea not only of the plumage

but also of the form. The picture is the result of studies from

living birds.


The Bed-headed Bullfinch is just about the same size as the

British bird, but perhaps somewhat more slender in build.



SOME EXPERIENCES OF MEALY

ROSELLAS.


By The Makquis of Tavistock.


The popular name of Platycercus pallidiceps is undoubtedly

open to objection, since the word ‘ rosella ’ is nothing more than a

meaningless corruption of Bose-hill, a place which the bird in ques¬

tion does not, I believe, frequent. Still, if one were to mention a

‘ pale-headed parrakeet,’ I doubt if nine aviculturists out of ten

would be much the wiser ; so perhaps it is best after all to stick to

the familiar title. Some people are disposed to crab the Mealy

Bosella on account of the rather washy and undecided tints of his

head and neck, but to my mind he is a very lovely bird—what

Broadtail indeed is not?—and few more tasteful combinations of

colour exist than the primrose and blue which adorn the greater

part of his plumage. His disposition, alas ! does not correspond to

the beauty of his outward appearance; in fact, when fully adult and



