ORB. INSESSOHES. 



TRIBE SCANSORES. 



FAM. PSITTACIB^. 



GEN. PALMORNIS. 



PLATE XVIII. 



PALJEORNIS COLUMBOIDES Vigors. 



BLUE WINGED PARROQUET. 



Synon. — P. melanorTiyntlia Sykes, (the female,) Jerdon Cat. No. 203. 



This elegantly coloured Parroquet belongs to the division long ago characterised 

 by Vigors, which seems peculiar to the Asiatic province, more especially to the continent oi 

 India, and which is, with the exception of Psittaculus, the only form of this family known 

 in India, and comprises several well marked species. Previously to obtaining this bird* 

 I had heard from several sportsmen of a blue parroquet said to be common in the depths 

 of the forests of Malabar. I first procured it at Trichoor, and afterwards in various other 

 localities on the West coast, and on the sides of the Neilgherries up to a height of 5000 feet. 

 As Colonel Sykes has it in his Catalogue, it probably extends along the range of western 

 ghauts for some distance, but I have not heard of its having been procured in any other 

 locality. 



It keeps entirely to the depths of the forests, and frequents only the loftiest trees. 

 Its flight is very rapid aud elegant, and it associates in small flocks. Its cry, though similar 

 in character to the harsh caU. of the common Parroquet, is much more mellow, subdued, and 

 agreeable. I have only once seen this bird in captivity ; it would however be a very de- 

 sirable addition to our aviaries. 



I have not seen the description of P. Columboides by Vigors,which is in the Zoologi- 

 cal Journal, but from Sykes' comparative description of his melanorhyncha, I have no doubt 



K 



