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JURQUOISINE. 



Psittaeus pulchellus, Euss. 



Synonyms: Buphema pulchella, Swns.; Nanodes jpulchellus, Vgrs.; 



Lathamus azureus, Lss.; Psittaeus Edwardsii, etc., etc. 



German: Der Schonsittich. 



THE Turquoisine is, without exception, one of the most charming 

 members of the Parrot family, combining as it does in its small 

 person the excellent qualities of comeliness, hardihood, docility, and 

 amiability. In size it is about half as large again as the Budgerigar 

 (Melospittacus undulatus) • or to compare it with a species that has been 

 already described in these pages, a third less than the Oockatiel. 



The general colour of the plumage is dark green, the forehead and 

 a circle round the eyes are sky-blue, the same colour 'extends to the 

 chin, and is conspicuous on the shoulders, which are also marked 

 higher up with a reddish brown patch; the under wings coverts are 

 blue, and the under parts of the body bright yellow. 



The female resembles her mate in general appearance, but has less 

 of the blue on her face and wings, and in her the red shoulder spot 

 assumes a reddish brown shade. 



Speaking of the size of this bird, Dr. Euss remarks, "Grosse der 

 Feldlerche, doch schlanker und mit langem, zugespitztem Schwanz." (The 

 size of the Field-Lark, but more slender, and with long, sharp-pointed 

 tail.) 



A seed-eater, grass-seed eater, the Turquoisine offers no difficulty to 

 the breeder in the matter of diet, canary and millet will keep him in 

 perfect health and beauty for years: should it be desired, however, 

 to get him to breed, he must be placed, with his wife, in a good-sized 

 aviary, out of doors if possible, about the end of May, and be provided 

 with suitable nesting-places in the shape of hollow logs, large cocoa- 



