170 BIRDS 



The Peach- or Rosy-faced Love-bird (A. roseicollis), 

 of South Africa, is considerably larger than the foregoing. 

 It has never been a common bird, but quite recently there 

 have been fairly numerous arrivals. It is a beautiful bird, 

 soft green above, with red forehead and rosy cheeks and 

 breast. The rump is bright blue and the tail variegated with 

 red, green, black and blue. In the female the color on the 

 breast is less extended. 



" The Broad-tailed Parrakeets and their allies (Platycer- 

 ciN^) include many beautiful species, the majority of 

 which, although common enough in Europe, are seldom 

 seen here. The subfamily is confined to the Australian 

 region. 



Although most of these birds will become tame if caged, 

 and some even make very good pets, they are much better 

 off in a capacious aviary, where their active habits may be 

 given full sway. Under such conditions, many of the 

 species are free breeders, but each pair must be separately 

 confined. Nesting logs or boxes of good size should be 

 provided. Most Broad-tails are absolutely hardy, being 

 able to endure the coldest weather if provided with some 

 shelter. Their feeding does not differ from that of other 

 parrakeets. 



The Broad-tails proper form the genus Platycercus, in- 

 cluding some sixteen species, all found in Australia. They 

 are characterized by having the feathers of the back black- 

 centered, giving a scaly appearance, and all have a long, 

 wide tail. 



The RosELLA Parrakeet (P. eximius) is the best known 

 species. The head and breast are red, with white cheek 

 patches; the black back feathers have broad, yellow-green 

 borders, while the wing coverts are blue. The tail feathers 

 are blue, green and white. As in its congeners, the sexes 

 are similar, but distinguishable by the smaller head and 



