172 PAL.EORNIS TORQUATUS. 



6-6 in the wiug, the usual size being 6 - 3, while several which I have examined from various Indian localities, such 

 as Kamptee, Mysore, Hyderabad, &c, measure as much as 6 - 7 ; they are, however, no larger in the bill than insular 

 examples, the measurements of this organ in several being 0-45, 043, 046 (height at front). The finest specimens 

 I have seen in Ceylon were from the north ; I noticed, on the contrary, that Hambantota birds were smaller than 

 those from other parts of the island. 



Distribution. — This pretty Parrakeet is very abundant in the districts which it affects ; it is an inhabitant 

 of all the dry low-country parts of Ceylon, and is more abundant on the seaboard and the adjacent maritime 

 regions than in the interior. It is very partial to the cocoa-nut and palmyra districts on the east and north 

 coasts ; commencing, therefore, at the Jaffna peninsula, where it is common, we find it more or less plentiful 

 down the east coast and round the east corner of the island to the Girawa Pattu, or "Province of Parrots," 

 beyond the western boundary of which it is rarely seen. From there up the west coast, as far as the district 

 immediately to the north of Negombo, it is absent ; here it reappears again, and is very abundant about Chilaw, 

 where it was noticed particularly by Layard, likewise at Puttalam and throughout the Seven Korales to the base 

 of the Kurunegala and Matale hills, along which it is tolerably numerous. Along the west coast to Manaar, 

 and thence northward to Jaffna, it is very common. It occurs in suitable localities throughout the northern 

 forest tract, and in portions of the Park country, as well as at the base of the Meclamahanuwara, Madulsima, 

 and Haputalc ranges, but I do not know of its ascending to any elevated patnas. 



This species is common throughout all India, from the south of the Madras Presidency to the foot of the 

 Himalayas. It is a denizen of the low-lying parts of the country as in Ceylon; for I do not find it recorded 

 from any elevation of consequence either in the north or south. Its range extends into the north-western parts 

 cil' India. Captain Butler notices it as very common in Northern Guzerat, as w r ell as on Mount Aboo, and 

 .Mr. Hume the same as regards Siuclh. In Burmah it is likewise common, and extends down the peninsula to 

 the latitude of Penang. It was introduced into the Andaman Islands by Col. Tytler, but Mr. Hume says it 

 has now entirely disappeared. It is also found in North-eastern Africa and Sencgambia. 



Habits. — The Rose-ringed Parrakeet frequents openly-timbcrcd plains, scrubby land in the vicinity of 

 cocoanut cultivation, low jtingle along the sea-coast, and, in fact, all localities where it can obtain an abundance 

 of wild berries and fruit to subsist on. Like the last species it assembles in flocks, but of far greater number, 

 to roost among the cocoanut-trees, often in the midst of a village, and even, as at Triucomalie, in the centre of 

 a town. It commences to return from its feeding-grounds at an early hour; and often about 4 o'clock in the 

 afternoon I have watched little troops of a dozen or more glancing over the tops of the trees, and sweeping 

 across open places in the jungle, or twisting through a palmyra-grove with surprising quickness, towards their 

 evening haunt, their light green plumage glittering in the rays of the declining sun, while the foremost of the 

 flock uttered his shrill but not unpleasant note, as if to cheer his companions on. In the early morning it is 

 marvellous with what celerity they spread themselves over the whole surrounding country, branching off in 

 little parties, probably the same which returned together on the preceding evening, as if they were resolved to 

 reach a certain spot by a given time or they would find their breakfast vanished ! 



They feed for about three hours, and then towards 10 o'clock settle about in twos and threes in the thick 

 foliage of shady trees, and remain silent, suddenly darting off with a scream when disturbed. They are very 

 difficult to sec when seated thus among leaves, and unless they were to fly off on the approach of man, would 

 with difficulty be observed. In the evening they become, like the last species, regardless of a gun, and are 

 often shot in large numbers by the natives, who wait beneath the trees as they return to roost. They feed 

 chiefly on berries, but they can, as Jerdon remarks, be very destructive to grain. Burgess, as noted by the 

 Doctor in his ' Birds of India/ remarks that they carry off the ears of corn to trees to devour at leisure. 

 \\ hen looking for a tree in fruit, I have seen them, as Jerdon noticed, " skimming close to and examining 

 every tree; and when they have made a discovery of one in fruit, circling round, and sailing with outspread and 

 down-pointed wings till they alight on the tree.'"' I have often wondered at the skill with which flocks of this 

 Parrakeet glance and twist between the trunks of a tolerably thick palmyra-grove, flying with arrow-like 

 speed, and do not strike against them ; but it appears that sometimes they are not quick-sighted enough, for 

 it is on record that they have flown against the walls of houses and been killed. The Shahin Falcon preys on 

 this species, and some observers say that Owls kill them at night. Its note is shriller and shorter than that 



