423 



ALEXANDRINE PARllAKEET. 



Psittacus Alexandri. P. viridis, striga humerali collarique postico 



rubriSf gula collarique antico nigris. 

 Green Parrakeet, with red hind -collar and shoulder- stripe, and 



black fore-collar and throat. 

 Psittacus torquatus macrourus atiquorum. Aldr, orn. Will, orn, 

 Psittacus Alexandri. Lin, Lath, SfC, PL Enl, 642. Edw, pi, 292. 



Levaill.pl. 30. 



This elegant species, which has so long maia- 

 tained a distinguished reputation for its docility 

 and imitative powers^ is supposed to have been the 

 only bird of the Parrot kind known to the ancient 

 Greeks and Romans, having been brought from 

 the island of Ceylon, (the ancient Tabropane,) 

 after the Indian expeditions of Alexander the 

 Great. In the reign of Nero the Romans first 

 became acquainted with other species of Parrots, 

 which they obtained from various parts of Africa. 

 The description given of the present species by 

 Pliny, however short, was sufficient to distinguish 

 it from all others at the time he wrote. It is, says 

 he, entirely green, with a red collar on the neck. 

 These birds appear to have been in great request 

 among the Romans, who lodged them in superb 

 cages, ornamented with silver, tortoise-shell, and 

 itory; and the price of a Parrot often exceeded 

 that of a slave. 



The size of the Alexandrine or Ring Parrakeet 

 is that of a common Pigeon, its general length 



V. viii. p. II. ^8 



