125 
^EST §FRICAN fioVE-pIRD. 
Psittacus pullarius, Euss, 
Stnontks: Agapornis pullaria, Bp., Hetl.; Psittacus guineensis, Mll.; 
Psittaculus guineensis, Psittacula guineensis, etc., etc. 
Gteeman: Der Unzertrennliche. Febnch; La PerrucJie a tete rouge. 
T he Love-birds^’ form another important and self-separating group 
of the Psittacidoe, and are found in the old and now world; the 
species under consideration is perhaps the best known of any, and has 
been in the hands of dealers and amateurs from time immemorial. 
It is a little larger than a Bullfinch, and of equally stout build : the 
prevailing colour of the plumage is green, darker on the upper than 
on the under surface of the body: a ring of rod, deeper on the head 
than on the throat, surrounds the beak, and varies in extent and in- 
tensity of hue according to the age of the bird: the tail is about an 
inch and a half in length, the first part of each feather for about half 
its length is red, then comes a black spot, and the extremity is yel- 
lowish green: the upper tail coverts are so long as to reach the end 
of the tail, so that this appendage, unless when the bird is flying, 
seems to be altogether of the same colour as the rest of the body: 
the beak is long and rather stout for the size of the bird, and is of 
a yellowish red colour, the eye is full and black, and the legs and feet 
grey. 
The female resembles the male, but the under surface of his wings 
is black, while in her the colour is dark green; otherwise the sexes 
are alike in size and general appearance. 
There is a prevalent opinion abroad that these birds are so affection- 
ately attached to each other, that if one dies, the other is certain not 
long to survive it: hence the rather inappropriate name of ^'Love-bird”, 
for, alas, for the romantic notion! the inseparable will live very well 
in single blessedness, and trouble himself, or herself, not one whit 
about the “dear depai’ted.” 
