172 
PALJEORNIS TORQUATUS. 
6 6 in the wing, the usual size being 6‘3, while several which I have examined from various Indian localities, such 
as Kamptee, Mysore, Hyderabad, &c., measure as much as 6-7 ; they are, however, no larger in the bill than insular 
examples, the measurements of this organ in several being 0-45, 0-43, 0-46 (height at front). The finest specimens 
I have seen in Ceylon were from the north ; I noticed, on the contrary, that Hambantota birds were smaller than 
those from other parts of the island. 
Distribution . — This pretty Parrakeet is very abundant in the districts which it affects ; it is an inhabitant 
°f all the dry low-country parts of Ceylon, and is more abundant on the seaboard and the adjacent maritime 
regions than in the interior. It is very partial to the cocoa-nut and palmyra districts on the east and north 
coasts; commencing, therefore, at the Jaffna peninsula, where it is common, we find it more or less plentiful 
down the east coast and round the east corner of the island to the Girawa Pattu, or “ Province of Parrots/’ 
beyond the western boundary of which it is rarely seen. From there up the west coast, as far as the district 
immediately to the north of Negombo, it is absent ; here it reappears again, and is very abundant about Cliilaw, 
where it was noticed particularly by Layard, likewise at Puttalam and throughout the Seven Korales to the base 
of the Kurunegala and Matale hills, along which it is tolerably numerous. Along the west coast to Manaar 
and thence northward to Jaffna, it is very common. It occurs in suitable localities throughout the northern 
forest tract, and in portions of the Park country, as well as at the base of the Medamahanuwara, Madulsima, 
and Haputale ranges, but I do not know of its ascending to any elevated patnas. 
This species is common throughout all India, from the south of the Madras Presidency to the foot of the 
Himalayas. It is a denizen of the low-lying parts of the country as in Ceylon; for I do not find it recorded 
i t om any elevation of consequence either in the north or south. Its range extends into the north-western parts 
of India. Captain Butler notices it as very common in Northern Guzerat, as well as on Mount Aboo, and 
Mr. Hume the same as regards Sindh. In Burmah it is likewise common, and extends down the peninsula to 
the latitude of Penang. It was introduced into the Andaman Islands by Col. Tytler, but Mr. Hume says it 
has now entirely disappeared. It is also found in North-eastern Africa and Sencgambia. 
Habits . — The Rose-ringed Parrakeet frequents openly-timbered plains, scrubby land in the vicinity of 
cocoanut cultivation, low jungle along the sea-coast, and, in fact, all localities where it can obtain an abundance 
of wild berries and fruit to subsist on. Like the last species it assembles in flocks, but of far greater number 
to roost among the cocoanut-trees, often in the midst of a village, and even, as at Trincomalie, in the centre of 
a town. It commences to return from its feeding-grounds at an early hour ; and often about 4 o’clock in the 
afternoon I have watched little troops of a dozen or more glancing over the tops of the trees, and sweeping 
across open places in the jungle, or twisting through a palmyra-grove with surprising quickness', towards their 
evening haunt, their light green plumage glittering in the rays of the declining sun, while the foremost of the 
flock uttered his shrill but not unpleasant note, as if to cheer his companions on. In the early morning it is 
marvellous with what celerity they spread themselves over the whole surrounding country, branching off in 
little parties, probably the same which returned together on the preceding evening, as if they were resolved to 
reach a certain spot by a given time or they would find their breakfast vanished I 
They feed for about three hours, and then towards 10 o’clock settle about in twos and threes in the thick 
foliage of shady trees, and remain silent, suddenly darting off with a scream when disturbed. They are very 
difficult to see when seated thus among leaves, and unless they were to fly off on the approach of man, would 
with difficulty be observed. In the evening they become, like the last species, regardless of a gun, and are 
often shot in large numbers by the natives, who wait beneath the trees as they return to roost. They feed 
chiefly on berries, but they can, as Jerdon remarks, be very destructive to grain. Burgess, as noted by the 
Doctor in his ‘ Birds of India,’ remarks that they carry off the ears of corn to trees to devour at leisure. 
"When looking for a tree in fruit, I have seen them, as Jerdon noticed, “skimming close to and examining 
every tree ; and when they have made a discovery of one in fruit, circling round, and sailing with outspread and 
down-pointed wings till they alight on the tree.” I have often wondered at the skill with which flocks of this 
lanakeet glance and twist between the trunks of a tolerably thick palmyra-grove, flying with arrow-like 
speed, and do not strike against them ; but it appears that sometimes they are not quick-sighted enough, for 
it is on lecoid that they have flown against the walls of houses and been killed. The Shahin Falcon preys on 
this species, and some observers say that Owls kill them at night. Its note is shriller and shorter than that 
