The Love-Birds derive their 
name from the great fondness 
which they display for others of 
their own species, and the manner 
in which they always sit close to 
each other while perched, each 
trying to snuggle as closely as 
possible among the soft feathers 
of its neighbour. 
They are all littkj birds, and 
among the smallest of these is 
the Swindern’s Love-Bird, which 
barely six inch 
measures 
length. 
It is a rather scarce bird, but 
deserves notice on account of its 
very small dimensions, and its 
beautiful plumage. Like others 
of its kind, it is very fond of 
society, and unless furnished with 
a companion is very apt to droop, 
refuse nourishment, and die. Its 
habits in a wild state are not pre- 
cisely known, as it is a bird of 
rare occurrence, and not easily to 
be watched. 
The head of this species is 
light grass-green ; round the back 
of the neck runs a black collar, 
and the chest, together with a 
band round the neck, just below 
the black collar, is yellow with a 
greenish cast. The general colour 
of the body is the same grass- 
green as that of the head, except 
the upper tail-coverts, which are deep rich azure. The short and rounded tail is 
beautifully and richly coloured, the two central feathers being green, and the 
others bright scarlet for the first half of their length, then banded with a warm 
bar of black, and the tips, green. The bill is black, and of a stronger make than 
is usually the case with the Love-birds. The legs and feet are greyish black. 
SWINDERN’S LOVE-BIRD. 
Psittdcalcl swin dernidna . 
i?o 
