PARROTS. 69 



the eyes, and the streaks upon the neck, are of a dull black ; the breast is of a pale brick red ; 

 all the feathers having narrow grey edges to their tips, as though suffused with a greyish vapour. 

 The beak is black, the feet greenish yellow, the eyes yellowish grey. The two sexes are distinguished 

 by the colour of the head, which in the one has a reddish and in the other a greenish lustre. We have 

 one of these birds alive before us, but cannot say whether the red-headed is, as we fancy, the male, or 

 the female ; the colours of both are equally beautiful. Bernstein tells us that although this parrot is 

 principally seen in Java, its distribution is very unequal, for whereas in some parts it is quite a 

 common bird, in others it is not to be found without strict search. It inhabits hot low-lying districts, 

 or sometimes promontories to the height of 4,000 feet, but never frequents mountains. It is always 

 to be met with in the coffee-plantations, where it soon betrays its presence by its loud screaming 

 voice, although it knows so well how to conceal itself from observation amongst the foliage, that it is 

 much oftener heard than seen. 



During the day Bettets fly in pairs or small parties through the gardens or thickets in the 

 neighbourhood, and towards evening assemble upon their trysting-place — a large, thickly foliaged 

 tree, or bamboo plantation — where they pass the night together. " If you happen to know such a 

 tree," says Bernstein, " and place yourself near it towards evening, you will see a very attractive 

 exhibition. When the sun goes down, the birds come gradually from all sides ; as soon as the 

 first has arrived, it raises its voice joyfully and commences a performance in which all new comers 

 join, so that at last the concert increases to a perfectly deafening noise, which only ends as the 

 last ray of sunset disappears. Then all go to roost, and are only disturbed when a solitary bird, 

 whose little sleeping-place is not comfortable, flies about to seek another perch, or drive a companion 

 from its place ; should this happen, the general annoyance is loudly expressed, and the disturber 

 of their repose soon settled with a few sharp pecks. With the first appearance of daylight, the 

 flock separates until the following evening, when all seek the same tree or bush, and pass the night 

 together as before." 



During the breeding season these birds live in pairs, and the evening assemblies do not 

 take place. The nests are made in holes of trees, and the strong beaks of the parrots are 

 very useful in preparing them. We only succeeded in finding one nest, and that was in a hollow 

 in a Puda tree some forty or fifty feet above the ground ; it contained but one pure white egg, 

 but the ovary of the female showed plainly that there were more eggs to lay. The Bettets we 

 have seen in captivity were very tame, and appeared mild and gentle in their demeanour ; we 

 learnt from trustworthy sources that they may be easily taught to speak very fluently. 



Among the Australian parrots the SUPERB PARROTS (Pofyte/is) remind us most of those just 

 described. The only two known species are moderately large birds from fifteen to sixteen inches 

 in length, slenderly formed, but with tolerably strong beaks, the upper mandible reaching far over 

 the lower one. 



THE SCARLET-CRESTED SUPERB PARROT. 



In the Scarlet-Crested Species (Polytdis Barrabandi) the plumage upon the back of the 

 neck, upper and lower parts of the body, is grass green ; the fore part of the head, the cheeks, 

 and the throat, king's yellow ; the wings and tail deep blue, shaded with green ; the neck surrounded 

 by a crooked line of scarlet ; the eyes are orange ; the beak bright red ; the feet ash grey. The 

 female is distinguished by its somewhat less brilliant plumage, its dull blueish grey face, its dusky rose- 

 red breast, and scarlet loins. The young resemble it in colour, but are less beautifully marked. This 

 bird is not rare in New South Wales, and in the interior is tolerably numerous. 



