37 



JjASSERINE OR gLUE-^flNGED 

 IgARRAKEET. 



Psittacus jpasserinus, Russ, Bchst., Linn., etc. 



Synonyms: Psittacula jpasserina, WGL., Bp., Fnsch., etc.; 



Psittacula jpasserina, gregaria, et modesta, Lchtst., etc. German: 



Der Sperling sjpajpagei. 



THIS nearly least of all the Parrot family, is truly deserving of 

 the name of ' Love-bird/, which is so generally bestowed upon 

 other species, for it really is "inseparable", and must be bought and 

 kept in pairs. 



Known to amateurs from the time of Buffon and Bechstein, and 

 probably from a very much earlier date, there are few birds more 

 worthy of the notice of connoisseurs: scarcely the size of a plump 

 cock Sparrow, the short tail makes it appear even less, and at the 

 same time gives it a kind of unfinished look, that detracts somewhat 

 from its personal appearance, otherwise so quaintly and quietly pretty. 



"The little blue and green Parrakeet", says Bechstein, "is as social 

 and affectionate as the preceding (the Eed-faced Love-bird), but much 

 more rare and dear." 



"It is a native of Brazil", adds the old German author, "and cannot 

 learn to speak." 



The general colour of the plumage is deep green, the rump and the 

 wings are sapphire blue, but scarcely to be noticed except when the 

 bird is flying about, when the contrast of colours becomes very con- 

 spicuous. 



The female is green all over, but with a whitish or greyish tinge 

 about the head and neck, resembling very closely the female of the 

 Madagascar Love-bird, no less than the female of the rarer Gregarious 

 Parrakeet of the West Indies. 



The species usually imported into this country comes from South 



