232 PSITTACID^ AGAPOKNIS 



Iris brown ; bill greenish-yellow ; legs grey. 



Length 6-6 ; wing 4-0; tail 1-75 ; culmen 0-75 ; tarsus 0-50. 



The sexes are alike. The young have paler cheeks and chests 

 and a fulvescent forehead. 



Distribxition. — The Eosy-faeed Lovebird is found in south-west 

 Africa from the Orange river valley northwards through German 

 south-west Africa and Bechuanaland to Angola, and perhaps beyond 

 to Gaboon. 



South African localities are as follows : Cape Colony — Upington 

 and Kakamas on the Orange river (Bradshaw in S. A. Mus.) ; 

 Transvaal — Limpopo river (Ortlepp and Layard) ; Bechuanaland 

 ■ — Lake Ngami (Andersson) ; German south-west Africa — 'Um'uma 

 Mountains, Gt. Namaqualand (Alexander), Omaruru, Ondonga, and 

 Okavango river (Andersson). 



Habits. — The only notice of the habits of this little Parrot is 

 that of Andersson which is as follows : — " This species is always 

 observed in small flocks, and seldom far away from water, to which 

 it resorts at least once a day, and is consequently not a bad guide to 

 a thirsty traveller ; though if he be inexperienced it would hardly 

 avail him much as it frequently happens that the drinking places 

 resorted to by this and other water-loving birds are but of small 

 compass and strangely situated. 



" This species is very swift of flight, and the little flocks in which 

 it is observed seem to flash upon the sight as they change their 

 feeding grounds or pass to and from their drinking-place ; their 

 flight, however, is only for a comparatively short distance at a time. 

 They utter rapid and shrill notes when on the wing, or when 

 suddenly disturbed or alarmed. Their food consists of large berries 

 and berry-like seeds. 



