:Ur» BIRDS OF RUITISH liFIANA. 



Total length 11-4 mm., culmeii 12. wing .S2. tail 37, tarsus 12. 



The male from which the description is Uiken vras collected at 

 the Upper Takutu Mountains. 



Adult female. Ditfers from the adult male in the absence of the 

 blue on the rump, greater upper wing-coverts, outer webs of 

 primary-quills, and under wing-coverts, these parts being replaced 

 by emerald-green. ^Ving Si) mm. 



Breeding ''all the year round in confinement * (C A. Lloyd). 



Sest. Unde-cribed in British Guiana. 



Kggs. "Laying as many as four eggs at a time — in confine- 

 ment '^^ (C. A. Lloyd). 



Range in British Guiana. Upper Takutu Moantains {^}L-Connell 

 collection). 



Eairaliniital Range. Surinam {Fenard) and Cayenne. 



There are two other individuals in the McConnell collection, 

 which were collected at the Mountains of the Moon, but we 

 consider that locality to be outside the bounds of the Colony. 



Habits. Scbomburgk was evidently much" interested in the 

 manners of this little Parrot and the affection shown by the male 

 and female towards each other {<-fr. Reis. Guian. i. p. 74), as lie 

 states that their life is a perfection of married life — if one calls, 

 then the other does the same ; if papa eats, mamma follows suit ; 

 if papa has a bath, mamma indulges as well ; if either is ill. the 

 other is most attentive in administerincr food. etc. Schoniburok 

 also mentions (Reis. Gtiian. iii. p. 726) that this little Parrot, 

 is found in large flocks. It appears to prefer the vicinity of the 

 coast and settlements rather than the interior, where it is less 

 common. AVhen flying it emits its short and musical note. The 

 tree in which it prefers to perch is the tamarisk, the flowers and 

 shoots of which it greedily devours. It also hunts the under- 

 growth for various berries and fruits. He did not see many 

 tame birds of this species, and was told that tliey did not live long 

 in captivity. Schomburgk did not know anything al)out its 

 nidification. 



Mr. ( ". A. Lloyd, writing ou the nesting of some Guiana birds, 

 remarks (Tiineliri (2) xi. p. 7) : — '' AVe know nothing concerning 

 the habits of the little Love-birds, Psittacula sp.. in their wild 

 state, but in ca[)tivity they are prolific, breeding all the year 

 round, and laying as many as four eggs at a time.^^ 



