51 
LEXANDRINE -^ARRAKEET. 
Psittacus eupatritis, Russ. 
Synonyms: Palmornis Alexandri, Yoks.^ Jed.; Psittacus Alexandri, 
Bchst., Lthm.; Psittacus neglectus, Psittacus torquatus, Gonurus 
Alexandri auctorum; etc., etc. Geeman: Per grosse Alexander-Sittich. 
French ; La grande Perruclie a Collier, Yllt. 
A CONSIDERABLE amount of confusion exists with regard to the 
different species of Palaeornes, in consequence of various authors 
having imposed upon several of them the specific designations of Alex- 
ander and torquatus; so that it becomes a matter of some consequence 
to clearly individuahse each species, in order to obviate for the future 
the possibility of one of them being mistaken for the other. 
Speaking of the genus, Palceornis, Mr. Vigors observes: ''The birds 
that compose it are at first sight distinguished by their superior ele- 
gance and gracefulness of form. This character is considerably increased 
by the construction of the tail, the two middle feathers of which far 
exceed the rest in length.” 
The bird which forms the subject of the present notice, is a native 
of India, and is also found in the adjacent islands, whence it is not 
unfrequently imported into this country, although not as often as its 
smaller congener, the Ring-necked, Psittacus, or Pal(B 07 'nis torquatus, 
also called the Bengal Parrakeet, of which we propose giving a des- 
cription in the next chapter. 
The Alexandrine Parrot, if named after the great Emperor of Mace- 
donia, deserves the appellation, for he is, literally, the greatest of his 
race, measuring some twenty inches in extreme length, twelve of which, 
however, are occupied by the tail; the body is slim and compactly 
made, but the head is large, and the beak of formidable dimensions; 
still his majesty can scarcely be called a handsome bird, nor is he of 
