PARROT. 189 



inclining to yellow on the crown, beneath paler, more approaching 

 to greenish ; belly and vent incline to orange ; wing coverts fine 

 blue, with light chestnut, the rest of the wing black ; tail cuneiform, 

 the two middle feathers blue green, and others blue at the base, the 

 rest of the length pale yellow ; legs dusky blue. 

 In the collection of M. de Fichtel. 



110.— OTAHEITE PARRAKEET. 



Psittacus Taitianus, Tnd. Orn. i. 105. Gm. Lin.'u 329. 



Porphyrio, Nat. Misc. t. 7. 



Petite Perruche de Taiti, Ariuianon, PL enl. 455. 2. Buf. vi. 175. Levail. pi. 65. 

 Otaheitan blue Parrakeet, Gen. Si/n. i. 255. Shaw's Zool. viii. 473. 



THIS is only six inches in length. Bill red ; tongue longish, 

 at the tip a pencil of short white bristles ; the feathers of the head 

 elongated, and forming a short crest ; the whole plumage fine blue, 

 except the throat and fore part of the neck, which are white ; tail 

 cuneiform ; legs red. 



Some of these have the throat and fore neck dusky white ; such 

 may be young birds, if not differing in sex. 



Inhabits the Isle of Otaheite in the South Seas, where it is very 

 common, perpetually fluttering about, making a screaming noise; 

 often seen in great numbers together, feeding on bananas. As these 

 birds live only on fruits, they do not bear confinement in a cage, for 

 they refuse solid food. It is called Arimanon, or Cocoa Bird, as it 

 frequents those trees. 



A. — Psittacus cyaneus, Mus. Carls. Jasc. ii. t. 27. 

 Perruche Sparrmaii, Levail. Perroq. i. p. 128. pi. 60. 



Size of the former. Bill pale, with a brown tip; plumage 

 throughout deep glossy blue; legs black. 



Inhabits Otaheite with the other, of which it may be esteemed a 

 mere variety. 



