424 ALfiXANDI^INE PARRAKEET. 



about fifteen inches, and its colour an elegant 

 bright green above, paler or yellower beneath : 

 across each shoulder, on the smaller coverts, is a 

 lengthened purplish-red patch or spot, and from 

 the base of the lower mandible, on each side, pro- 

 ceeds a moderately broad black band or stripe, which 

 after descending a little way, passes backwards, so 

 as almost to encircle the neck, growing very narrow 

 as it approaches the back part, which is marked by 

 a red collar, near half an inch wide, but narrowing 

 as it passes forwards immediately beneath the black 

 one, almost reaching the front of the neck : the 

 back part of the head, towards the commencement 

 of the red collar, has a slight blueish tinge, and 

 the edges of the tail-feathers are often of a similar 

 cast : the bill is of a bright orange-red ; the legs ash- 

 coloured J and the under surface of the tail, which 

 is strongly and regularly cuneated, is of a yellow- 

 ish cast. 



A variety of this bird is described and figured 

 by Edwards, which in size and all other particulars 

 resembled the common kind, except in being the 

 head of a sky-blue colour, without any appearance 

 of a collar round the neck ; the tail pale blue above, 

 and the spot on the shoulders dull yellow instead 

 of red. Exclusive of this, some other kinds appear 

 to exist, retaining the leading characteristics of the 

 species, but, like the race of pigeons, constituting so 

 many permanent varieties. Of these the following 

 are enumerated by the Count de BufFon, Dr. La- 

 tham, and others. 



