256 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



and longest ; tail very long, cuneate ; the feathers narrow, almost 

 linear, with their tips obtuse, and the two middle feathers in 

 general greatly exceeding the others. 



The Parrakeets are a well-known group of birds, of moderate 

 or small size, and green colour, ornamented about the head and 

 neck with various distinctive marks. With the exception of 

 the little Loriculus and Fsittinus, they are the only Parrots found in 

 the Indo-Chinese countries, and all western Malayana, and are very 

 characteristic of this zoological province : as is always the case in 

 such groups, there are many local species. They are very docile, 

 and can be taught to repeat words, and I have even known them 

 trained as letter-carriers for a short distance. 



147. Palaeornis Alexandri, Lin. 



Psittacus, apud Linn^us — PI. enl., 642— Jerdon, Cat. 201 — 

 Blytii, Cat. 16— HoKSF., Cat. 896— P. nipalensis, Hodgs.— 

 Chandana, in Bengal — Chanda-ban-i, at Mussooree — Karan suga, 

 and Kararia, in Nepal — Ra-i tola (i. e, Pioyal Parrakeet) H., 

 in the south of India — Pedda chilluka, Tel. — Peiia killi, Tam. 

 Keri-euri of the Gonds. 



The Alexandrine Parrakeet. 



Descr. — Adult male, green, brilliant emeraldine on the head 

 and face, duller on the back, paler beneath, inclining to dingy on 

 the breast, and yellowish on the chin and lower tail-coverts ; 

 quills bluish ; the inner edge of the inner webs dusky ; tail with 

 the two centre feathers bright green at their base, pale bluish 

 green for the remaining two-thirds, and tipped yellowish ; the 

 outer feathers light green on the outer webs, yellowish green 

 internally ; a black stripe from the base of the lower mandible 

 crossing round behind the ears, and a demi-collar of peach-rose 

 color on the nape and sides of neck ; in front of this collar the 

 feathers are glaucous ; a dark red spot on the shoulders of the 

 wings, and some of the feathers of the wing coverts and scapulars 

 narrowly edged with dusky ; a narrow line from the nostrils to 

 the eye tinged with black. 



