[ 17 } 
ALEXANDRINE PARRAKEET. 
Psittacus Alexandra Lin. Syst. i. p. 141. 
Psittaca Torquata. Bris. vol. iv. p . 3 23. 
La grande Perruche a collier d’un 
ROUGE VIF. Buf. vol. vi. p. 141. 
Ring Parrakeet. Edw. vol. p. 292. 
Alexandrine Parrakeet. Lath. vol. i. p . 23 4. 
This species derives its name from having been first noticed during 
Alexander’s Indian expedition. It is nearly the size of a dove-house, or 
wild pigeon, and with the tail measures sixteen inches. 
The bill is red, much hooked, the upper mandible moveable (as in all 
the parrot tribe), and covered with a cere, in which the nostrils are placed, 
the tongue large, blunt, rounded, and fleshy; the feet have four toes, two 
of which are turned backwards ; but one of these can be brought forwards 
occasionally; it is very flexible, and can perform the part of hands in hold- 
ing any thing, and carrying it to the mouth, also in the act of climbing, 
which this bird does with great facility, using the bill to assist the feet. 
The parrot species is very numerous, they are chiefly confined to the 
tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and America; a few are met with as far 
as North Carolina, and at the Straits of Magellan. They are long lived; live 
chiefly in pairs, but at times assemble in vast numbers; breed in hollow 
trees, without constructing any nest; and though they lay but two or three 
(white) eggs at each brood, yet the vast multitude of parrots in the coun- 
tries which they inhabit, proves to a certainty that they must breed several 
times annually. 
This species inhabits the southern parts of Asia, the adjacent isles, and 
Ceylon. 
