PARROTS 171 



beak of the female. This bird is imported freely, and, once 

 established, is very long-lived. 



The Pale-headed or Mealy Rosella (P. pallidiceps) 

 has much the same pattern as the preceding, but the red 

 of the head and breast is replaced by yellow, which color 

 also borders the feathers of the back. It is not so commonly 

 seen as its relatives, but is often to be had. 



The Pennant Parrakeet {P- elegans) is a really lovely 

 bird. It is bright red in general, with blue cheek patches 

 and wing coverts; the feathers of the back are black with 

 crimson edges and the tail is blue. The plumage of the 

 young birds is greenish, with the blue cheeks and wing 

 coverts, the red appearing in patches. This beautiful species 

 is perfectly hardy, and indifferent to cold once established. 

 Unfortunately, a great percentage of the birds received here 

 are infected with psittacosis, or badly infested with worms 

 in the digestive tract, which makes their acclimatization a 

 difficult matter. 



The only remaining member of this subfamily which 

 reaches us in sufficient numbers to be regularly obtainable 

 is the Undulated Grass Parrakeet, or Budgerigar 

 {Melopsittacus undulatus), the " Shell Parrakeet " of deal- 

 ers. This little bird has become thoroughly domesticated 

 and is bred in great numbers. It is one of the most common 

 of cage birds and frequently is miscalled love-bird. 



The typical form is green, the feathers of the upper parts 

 being narrowly tipped with black. The forehead, cheeks 

 and throat are yellow, with a short band of blue and three 

 round, black dots on each cheek. The tail is long and nar- 

 row and blue in color. The sexes are similar, but may be 

 known by the blue nostril and ceres of the male, as com- 

 pared with the brown ones of the female. Continued breed- 

 ing in captivity has produced a yellow variety which, when 

 properly colored, is a very handsome bird. It is now almost 



