^ALE-STEADED OR fifEALY floSELLA. 



Psittacus palliceps, Russ. 



Synonyms: Platycercus palliceps, Vges., Jedn., Gld., etc. 



Platycercus ccelestis, Ge.; Gonurus palliceps, Cv. 



Geeman: Der blasskopfige Buntsittich. 



THE Mealy Rosella is not, in our opinion, a pretty bird, its pale- 

 coloured head and face give it a decidedly sickly appearance; it 

 is about the same size as the last species, and coloured after much 

 the same fashion, the head and neck of the Rosella being red, and 

 the same parts in its Mealy relation yellow; the cheeks of the latter 

 are white, which tend to increase its really ghastly mien; the upper 

 part of the body is black, each feather being edged with yellow; the 

 under surface is blue; and the lower tail coverts red. 



The female resembles the male exactly as to colour, but is, perhaps, 

 a trifle smaller. 



The Mealy Rosella replaces in the northern parts of Australia the 

 more vividly coloured bird of the southern portions of the country, so 

 that Dr. Russ is incorrect when he states " Heimat ein cjrosser Thiel 

 Austr aliens." 



It is not as robust as its more vividly coloured congener, and will 

 not stand the severity of our winters out of doors; it is not very 

 common in the dealers' shops, nor, we believe, very much sought after 

 by amateurs. We cannot encourage our readers to buy it, for the 

 following reasons: it is expensive, rather delicate, at least at ffirst, 

 quarrelsome with its fellows, and, as we have said, presents a sickly, 

 faded, wasked-out appearance, that in our eyes is the reverse of at- 

 tractive. 



If any one should decide upon giving it a trial, well and good, feed 

 it on seeds, as the Common Rosella, but give more insect food, such 

 as mealworms, gentles, and black beetles, as well as egg-bread, ants' 



