THE BLACK-BACKED PARRAKEET. 



PSITTACVS MELAXOTUS SHAW. 



PLATE 28. 



The whole of the head, neck, throat, breast, abdo- 

 men, crissum, and tail, are of a rich yellowish green, 

 the latter tipped with yellow ; the interscapulum is 

 black, the rump cobalt blue, changing to purple, 

 and the upper tail coverts rich yellowish green ; 

 the middle and secondary feathers of the wings are 

 of a rich scarlet colour, the greater coverts of a 

 deep olive green, and the primaries of blue green; 

 the bill pinkish scarlet on the sides, and yellow 

 along the keel ; the legs and feet are black. The^ 

 plumage of the Black-backed Parrakeet is, in the 

 highest degree, vivid and elegant in its colours ; it 

 is a native of Australasia ; in size it is somewhat less 

 than the Nonpareil Parrakeet. 



