352 THE RINGED PARRAKEET. 
the distance of a mile. They are very loquacious birds, and are often 
discovered through their perpetual chattering. : ; 
When settling itself to sleep, the Toucan packs itself up in a very 
systematic manner, supporting its huge beak by resting it on its back, and 
tucking it completely among the feathers, while it doubles its tail across its 
back, just as if it moved on a spring hinge. So completely is the bill hidden 
among the feathers, that hardly a trace of it is visible in spite of its great 
size and bright colour, and the bird when sleeping looks like a great ball of 
loose feathers. 
PARROTS. 
THE general form of the PARROTS is too well known to need description. 
All birds belonging to this large and splendid group can be recognized by 
the shape of their beaks, which are large, and 
have the upper mandible extensively curved 
and hanging far over the lower ; in some species 
the upper mandible is of extraordinary length. 
The tongue is short, thick, and fleshy, and the 
structure of this member aids the bird in no 
slight degree in its singular powers of articu- 
lation. The wings and tail are generally long, 
and in some species, such as the Macaws, the 
tail is of very great length, while in most of the 
Parrakeets it is longer than the body. 
THE genus Paleornis, of which the RINGED 
PARRAKEET is an excellent example, is a very 
extensive one, and has representatives in almost 
every hot portion of the world, even including 
“ Australia. 
The Ringed Parrakeet is found both in Africa 
and Asia, the only difference perceptible be- 
tween the individuals brought from the two 
continents being that the Asiatic species is 
rather larger than its African relative. It has 
RINGFD PARRAKEET. long been the favourite of man as a caged bird, 
(Paleornis torquatus.) and is one of the species to which such frequent 
reference is made by the ancient writers, the 
other species being the Alexandrine Ringed Parrakeet (Paleornis Alexandrt). 
This species of Parrakeet is not very good at talking, though it can learn 
to repeat a few words, and is very apt at communicating its own ideas by a 
language of gesture and information especially its own. It is, however, very 
docile, and will soon learn any lesson that may be imposed, even that most 
difficult task to a Parrot—remaining silent while anyone is speaking. 
The general colour of this species is grass-green, variegated in the adult 
male as follows:—The feathers of the forehead are light green, which take a 
bluish tinge as they approach the crown and nape of the neck, where they are 
of a lovely purple blue. Just below the purple runs a narrow band of rose 
colour, and immediately below the rosy line is a streak of black, which is 
narrow towards the back of the neck but soon becomes broader, and envelops 
the cheek and chin. It does not go quite round the neck, as there is an 
interval of nearly half an inch on the back of the neck. The quill feathers of 
both wings and tail are darkish green ; the wings are black beneath, and the 
tail yellowish. 
ONE of the very prettiest and most interesting of the Parrot tribe is the 
GRASS or ZEBRA PARRAKEET, deriving its names from its habits and the 
markings of its plumage. 
