140 
BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 
median coverts nearest the body red; forming a most conspicuous spot ; 
central tail-feathers greenish at base^ blue on the remainder and tipped 
yellowish ; the other feathers green on the outer web and yellow on the 
inner. 
The female differs in wanting the black on the chin and throat and the 
stripe on the sides of the neck ; the peach-rose collar and the glaucous 
tinge on the nape are also wanting. The red patch on the wing is also 
smaller. 
Iris bright yellow ; cere yellow^ ; bill bright red_, the tip yellow ; eyelids 
pale pink^ the edges orange ; legs orange-yellow. Female the same. 
Length 22 inches^ tail 13, wing 8-4^ tarsus '7; bill from gape 1-2. The 
female is rather smaller. 
The Large Paroquets of India and Burmah have been subdivided into 
four species^ each based on trivial differences in size and coloration. P. 
eupatrius, the smallest race_, inhabits Ceylon ; P. magnirostris , the largest,, 
is found in the Andaman Islands ; and P. nipalensis, an intermediate race, 
in Northern India. Typical examples of the Burmese race differ in having 
the base of the throat yellowish^ the nape and sides of the head of the same 
colour as the crown^ and the mandibular stripes narrow ; they are^ more- 
over, to be recognized by their very large size^ in which respect they equal 
P. magnirostris, but the bill is very much smaller than in that species. It 
seems very doubtful whether these races or species are worthy of retention ; 
but for the present it is convenient perhaps to keep the Burmese bird under 
Mr. Hume^s name. 
The Large Burmese Paroquet is found over a great portion of British 
Burmah, and is usually abundant ; but Mr. Davison did not observe it in 
Tenasserim south of Amherst, nor Capt. Bingham in the Thoungyeen 
valley. 
To the east it extends to Cochin China, where Dr. Tiraud states that this 
race is common ; and to the north it is diffused over the Indo-Burmese 
countries, ranging into India as far as Sikhim. 
This Paroquet occurs in small flocks, and is usually seen in plains and 
the outskirts of cultivation where large trees abound. It does not ascend 
the hills to any great height, nor is it to be met with in dense forests. Its 
cry is very loud. Like all the other Paroquets, it feeds on fruit and grain, 
and also at times eats buds. It breeds in January and February, excava- 
ting a hole for itself in the trunk or a large branch of some lofty tree, and 
laying therein three white eggs. 
