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IgASSERINE OR fjLUE-^INGED 
JJarrakeet. 
Psittacus passerinus, Russ., Bchst., Linn., etc. 
Synonyms: Psittacula passerina, Wgl., Bp., Fnsch., etc. ; 
Psittacula passerina , gregaria, et modesta , Lchtst., etc. German : 
Per Sperling spapagei. 
T HIS nearly least of all the Parrot family, is truly deserving ot 
the name of ‘Love-bird’, which is so generally bestowed upon 
other species, for it really is “ inseparable ”, and must be bought and 
kept in pairs. 
Known to amateurs from the time of BufEon and Bechstein, and 
probably from a very much earlier date, there are few birds more 
worthy of the notice of connoisseurs : scarcely the size of a plump cock 
Sparrow, the short tail makes it appear even less, and at the same 
time gives it a kind of unfinished look, that detracts somewhat from 
its personal appearance, otherwise so quaintly and quietly pretty. 
“The little blue and green Parrakeet”, says Bechstein, “is as social 
and affectionate as the preceding (the Red-faced Love-bird), but much 
more rare and dear.” 
“ It is a native of Brazil ”, adds the old German author, “ and cannot 
learn to speak.” 
The general colour of the plumage is deep green, the rump and 
the wings are sapphire blue, but scarcely to be noticed except when 
the bird is flying about, when the contrast of colours becomes very 
conspicuous. 
The female is green all over, but with a whitish or greyish tinge 
about the head and neck, resembling very closely the female of the 
Madagascar Love-bird, no less than the female of the rarer Gregarious 
Parrakeet of the West Indies. 
The species usually imported into this country comes from South 
