ALEXANDRINE RING-FARRAKEET. 
93 
•ots were known, either to the Greeks or Romans, 
previous to the time of Nero, were exclusively 
brought from India or its islands, and that the spe- 
cies, if more than one had been introduced, also be- 
longed to the genus now in the course of illustration, 
the description they have given of the plumage of 
these birds pointing distinctly to this, and possibly 
one or two other nearly allied species, as not onl/ 
the prevailing colour of the body, hut that of the 
bill, and the distinguishing characteristic, the neck- 
vollar, are particularly mentioned. By Aristotle it 
is called la I ogi/sov — the Indian Bird ; and Pliny 
not only mentions the country from whence it came, 
but adds, “Sittacen vocat, viridem toto corpore tor- 
que tantum miniato in cervice distinctam.” Its imi- 
tative qualities and powers of articulation, and the 
high estimation in which it was held among the great, 
are also frequently adverted to by the poets ; and it 
was in commemoration of a favourite bird of this 
species, that Ovid composed that beautiful elegy, 
commencing — 
“ Psittacus, Eois imitatrix ales ab oris, 
Occiilit.” 
Of this elegy a free translation is given in Shaw's 
Zoology, to which, from its length, we must refer 
our readers. The Alexandrine, as well as its con- 
gener the Rose-ring Parrakeet, are still highly prized, 
and frequently brought from the East Indies, as, iu 
