17 



fgARNARD'S OR THE gULLA gULLA 

 f§ARRAKEET. 



Psittacus Barnardi. 



Synonyms: Platycercus Barnardi; Bamardius typicus, etc. 



French: Perruche de Barnard. German: Barnard's Sittich. 



AUTHORS are pretty well agreed in bestowing upon this handsome 

 Broadtail the specific name of Barnard, from a French naturalist of 

 repute towards the close of the last century; Prince 0. Bonaparte 

 alone departing from the example of other writers by naming the bird 

 in question Bamardius typicus, or the typical Barnard. It is even more 

 scarce than Bauer, from which a glance at the plate will show the 

 reader that it differs considerably; especially in having a deep crimson 

 frontlet. 



It is about the size of the last named bird, and equally hardy, but 

 more amiable and engaging; it is also even of less frequent occurrence 

 in captivity than Bauer's Parrakeet, and is consequently dearer; nor 

 is there any instance on record, that the writer is aware of, of its 

 having as yet re-produced itself in confinement. 



The female is very like her mate, but her colours are much less 

 bright than his, and she is perceptibly smaller. 



None of the Broadtails make good talkers, and Barnard is no ex- 

 ception to this rule. Occasionally a male reared from the nest will 

 learn to say, in a very small voice, a simple word or two, but generally 

 his linguistic attainments are confined to the repetition of the word 

 "Joey;" he very rarely reaching such an advanced standard of edu- 

 cation as to say "Pretty Joey/' though one such instance is on record; 

 but the bird in question must have been exceptionally intelligent, 

 and one cannot expect to meet with such a phenomenon every day; 

 but they learn to whistle very prettily. 



in. c 



