ft 



ILEATED HARRAKEET. 



Psittacus pileatus, Gould. 



Synonyms: Platycerus pileatus; P. spurius. 



French: Platycerque a bonnet rouge. 



PRE-EMINENTLY distinguished among its peers by the harmonious 

 and varied tintiugs of its plumage, the Pileated Parrakeet is no 

 less to be recommended to the notice of amateurs for its gentle and 

 loveable disposition, its inoffensive habits, and the softness and sweet- 

 ness of its notes — it never screams or screeches, but warbles delightfully 

 in a low and pleasing tone — than for the charm of its personal appear- 

 ance; which, though not showy, is extremely attractive and neat. 



A native of the sparsely-timbered ranges of Western Australia, the 

 Ruby-capped Parrakeet was first described and figured by the late 

 John Gould, F.R.S., the author, inter alia, of that magnificent work, 

 The Birds of Australia, of which a single copy is now worth about 

 £300; and well worth it, too, in our estimation and that of many people. 



"Pilate'-', contracted from pileated, has been in the writer's possession 

 for several years, and is believed to be the only specimen of its species 

 now living in this country, where, until recently, a second was to be 

 seen at the "Zoo", but has gone over to the majority; while a few 

 young ones, in immature plumage, that were imported during the summer 

 (1885) by the late Anton H. Jamrach, are believed to have all died 

 soon after leaving his hands. 



The present writer is unacquainted with the early history of the 

 lovely bird of which Mr. Lydon has so admirably drawn the portrait 

 for the present work, for it was purchased at a little suburban bird- 

 shop, of which the owner had obtained it from a boy in the neighbour- 

 hood; to whom it had been made a present by a friend, who was reported 

 to have brought it from Australia. 



It was then adult, and perhaps two years old, in splendid condition, 



