THE GROUND PARROT. 



PSITTACUS FORilOSUS. — LE VAILLANT. 



PLATE a 



Although with little variety of colour, this bird 

 is certainly one of great beauty. Its size is about | 

 that of a Turtle Dove ; and is called the Ground! 

 Parrot, from the circumstance that it very rarely j 

 perches on trees, being usually found on the ground, j 

 It haunts sedgy and rushy places, where it may 

 be seen running along in the manner of a rail. In 

 the low meadow lands of New Holland this bird isi 

 by no means rare. 



Our friend, Sir Patrick Walker, gives us the 

 measurement of two of these beautiful birds : he 

 says, " they were eleven inches and a half in 

 length, and their legs and toes were longer and 

 straighter then is usual in this tribe, and their claws 

 were long, like those of larks." 



The whole upper part of the bird is of a splendid 

 green, banded with black and yellow ; beneath it is 

 yellow, with numerous dark waved bands ; tlit 

 crown and nape are streaked; and the forehead oi 



