208 Catalogue of the Birds [April 



kinds of grain and fruit. It associates in flocks of various size, some- 

 times very numerous, roosting in the holes of old trees, and flying forth 

 to their various feeding haunts, early in the morning. When the 

 grains are cut and fruit is scarce, it often takes long flights in search 

 of any fruit-bearing trees, skimming close to the large trees, and when 

 successful in its search, in general not alighting suddenly, but taking 

 a short circle, and changing its usual mode of flight, viz. a swift and 

 continued flapping of their wings, to a steady sailing with wings spread 

 and turned obliquely downwards, and thus alighting on the tree speedi- 

 ly commences its meal. Its flight is very swift, and it generally keeps 

 up a harsh scream when in motion. It is, however, at all times a 

 noisy bird. It breeds in holes of trees during the hot weather, laying, 

 as I am credibly informed, 3 or 4 white eggs. 



Irides light yellow ; bill lively red above, dusky beneath. Length 16 

 to 18 inches ; wing 7 ; tail 10 to 11. 



201.— P. Alexandri, Vig.—Psht. Alexandri, Anct.—Baee-Totah, H. 

 —Largt' red-ringed Parrakeet. 



This species is much more rare than the last, and I have only seen 

 it on two or three occasions. The first time I became aware of its 

 being found in the peninsula was seeing one carried off in an open 

 space in the jungles of Malabar by a ^Shahee. (Falco Aldrovandi), 

 which dropped it on my firing at it, and I picked it up, severely 

 wounded but still alive. I have again seen it once or twice in the 

 neighbourhood of well wooded villages, in the northern part of the 

 table land, and obtained 4 young ones from the nest, in a hole of a 

 lofty tree, last December. As I am informed by shikarees that it is 

 not very uncommon in some of the more wooded districts, I dare say 

 I have occasionally overlooked it, mistaking it for the last ; still it is 

 comparatively so rare, that I think the previous species was most 

 probably the one taken first to Europe from this countrv, and which 

 therefore should have been named P. Alexandri. It breeds during the 

 cold season. 



Length about 20 inches; wing SJ ; tail 12; bill deep cherrv red 

 above, lighter and more orange red beneath ; feet cinerous. 



202.-P. Bengalensis, Vigors.— P sit t. Bengalensis, Gmel-P. ery 

 throcephalus, Gmel.-P. flavicdlaris, Frankl.- Yellow collared Para- 

 Iceet, Lath. Young bnd.-Tooeeah Total,, H.-Iied-headed ringed 

 Parakeet. * 



