Macaws. 
Barraband's Parrakeet. 
'j 
Female : Instead of the bright yellow of the male, olive green ; shoulders, deep green ; primaries, 
secondaries, and spurious wing, deep blue-black, margined externally with greenish yellow ; some of 
the secondaries and greater wing-coverts, dull red ; tail, dark green, passing into black ; five lateral 
feathers, slightly margined on inner web and tipped with rose ; bill and feet as in male. Size, 1 si in. ; 
tail, gi in. ; wing, 8 in. ; bill, f in. ; tarsi, § in. 
BARRABAND’S PARRAKEET. 
Polytelis Barrabandi (Wagler). 
Synonyms.— Pakeornis rosaceus and Barrabandi (Vigors); Barrabandius rosaceus (Bonap.); Platyeercus rosaceus (G.R.Gray). 
Trivial Names. —Green Leek ; Barraband’s Parrakeet; Rose-breasted Parrot. 
Aboriginal Names. —Tit-yert. 
Derivation. —Barrabandi, in honor of Barraband, a celebrated ornithological artist, who executed the drawings for 
Le Vaillant’s Histoire Naturelle des Perroqnets. 
Habitat.— New South Wales generally, but becoming rare towards Riverina, where the Black-tailed (P. melanura) 
takes it place; scattered throughout the whole of Victoria, nowhere, however, very abundant. Very rare in Queensland, though 
occasionally found. Generally south and east of Polytelis melanura. 
OW this favorite bird obtained its trivial name of Green Leek must be buried among the lost 
archives of Botany Bay when a convict settlement. Possibly some N ew South Welshman of the 
early colonial days wished to have the fragrant typical vegetable of old Cambria represented in the 
new Wales, but wisely chose the symbol in a beautiful bird, rather than—with all respect be it 
said—a somewhat questionable root. This bird is as beautiful in appearance, and as elegant in form, as the 
bird last described. The hues of its plumage, seen set off by dark leaves, on a bright summer day, are 
truly charming. I have never met so many together as I have of the Black-tailed Parrakeet, nor have 
I found them so abundant in any one locality. Neither is its flight so rapid—its wings being slightly 
shorter than that bird’s,—but its carriage on the ground, its food, and its general habits, are, as might be 
expected, similar. I never found it a particularly shy bird, and when met with, it was easily procured. 
The red-thighed birds are old ones, but at what age they assume this additional adornment I have not 
been able to determine. It is quite possible too that caged specimens may, from the food provided for 
them, attain this distinction earlier in life than if they were wandering in the wild woods free. I have 
been told that at six years old a tame bird acquired this plumage, but I cannot rely on the information. 
When I was staying at a station between Swan Hill and Euston, a pair were hatching ; the nest, as with 
most of the tribe, was simply a hole in a tall gum tree with no lower branches for thirty feet. 
eggs, six in number, and dirty white. 
’ This bird is a great favorite, and very common as a caged bird. I have known them to say such 
words as “Joey,” but not much else, save what imagination prompted some fair and fond owner to 
believe the “ bonnie birdie ” did say. The treatment required is the same as for the Black-tailed. 
Description .—Male : Sinciput throat and neck of a rich yellow ; beneath the yellow throat a collar 
of bright red; back of the head, bluish-green; upper and under parts of the body green, t e part 
between the bill, eyes, and ear-coverts being more grass-green than the rest; primaries, secon anes, 
and spurious wing, dark blue, tinged with green ; tail, green ; two intermediate feathers near y two 
inches longer than the others; under surface of wing and tail dark brown ; thighs in old birds frequently 
red, like the collar, otherwise green; irides, deep yellow; bill, bright red. Female: General 
plumage green, with faint indications of rose color on the chest; central tail feathers uniform green, the 
inner webs of the remainder red. Size, 15* in.; tail, 9 f in- > wing, 7 \ in. ; bill, ¥ «• , tarsi, 4 in. 
