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JuRQUOISINE. 
Psittacus 'pulcJiellus, Errss. 
Synonyms: EupJiema pulchella, Swns.; Nanodes ^ulchellus, Vges.; 
Lathamus amreus, Lss.; Psittacus Pdwardsii, etc., etc. 
Gteeman : Per Schonsittich. 
HE Turquoisine isj without exception, one of the most charming 
_L members of the Parrot family, combining as it does in its small 
person the excellent qualities of comeliness, hardihood, docility, and 
amiability. In size it is about half as large again as the Budgerigar 
{Melospittacus undulatus) ; or to compare it with a species that has been 
already described in these pages, a third less than the Cockatiel. 
The general colour of the plumage is dark green, the forehead and 
a circle round the eyes are sky-blue, the same colour extends to the 
chin, and is conspicuous on the shoulders, which are also marked 
higher up with a reddish brown patch; the under wings coverts are 
blue, and the under parts of the body bright yellow. 
The female resembles her mate in general appearance, but has less 
of the blue on her face and wings, and in her the red shoulder spot 
assumes a reddish brown shade. 
Speaking of the size of this bird. Dr. Euss remarks, “Grosse der 
Feldlerche, dock scJdanker und mit langem, zugespitztem Schwanz.” (The 
size of the Pield-Lark, but more slender, and with long, sharp-pointed 
tail.) 
A seed-eater, grass-seed eater, the Turquoisine offers no difficulty to 
the breeder in the matter of diet, canary and millet will keep him in 
perfect health and beauty for years: should it be desired, however, 
to get him to breed, he must be placed, with his wife, in a good-sized 
aviary, out of doors if possible, about the end of May, and be provided 
with suitable nesting-places in the shape of hollow logs, large cocoa- 
