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JlARRABAND'S IgARRAKEET. 



Psittacus Barrabandi, Buss. 



Synonyms: Polytelis Barrabandi, Gld., Wgl.; Palceornis 



Barrabandi, Vges., Slb.; Palceornis rosaceus, Platysercus rosaceus, Ge.; 



Barrabandius rosaceus, Bp. Geeman: Per Schildsittich. 



PLACED by Selby, in Jardine's Naturalist's Library, at the head 

 of the genus Palceornis, Barrabandi Parrakeet, named after the 

 French ornithological painter, has no claim whatever to be so classed, 

 being much more nearly related to the Platycerci, although the tail 

 with which it has been endowed by nature is considerably longer than 

 that of most of the members of the Broad-tailed sub-family, which, 

 with some other peculiarities, seems to connect it rather with that sub- 

 division of the honey-eaters to which the Paradise and Many-coloured 

 Parrakeets belong: so apparent, indeed, is the difference that Wagler 

 constituted it a genus by itself, to which he gave the name of Polytelis. 



It is a tolerably large bird, measuring about fifteen inches in length, 

 eight of which belong to the tail. The general colour of the plumage 

 is a rich deep shade of green; the forehead, lower part of the face, and 

 the throat are citron yellow, a broad band of deep scarlet red encircles 

 the lower part of the neck, extending down to the breast, and the 

 flight feathers of the wings are blue; the eye is red, and the lores, 

 or spaces between the eyes and the ear. coverts, are bright green; the 

 beak is red, and the legs, which are much longer than those of any 

 of the true Palceornes, are black. 



The female is quite green without the yellow ring, or red shield. 



To the inhabitants of New South Wales, of which colony they are 

 natives, these birds are known by the name of "Green Leek", and 

 concerning them, a recent writer observes, "As cage pets they are 

 very much attached to their owners and to each other, and become 

 both demonstrative and noisy in exhibiting affection", although in the 



