PARRAQUETS. 
*35 
crested Agreeing with the above-mentioned New Zealand parraquets in 
Parraquets. their parti-coloured beaks, the crested parraquets of New Caledonia 
and the Loyalty Islands differ from other 
members of the family in the presence 
of a small crest of feathers on the 
head. In the New Caledonian crested 
parraquet (.Nymphicus cornutus), of 
which the general colour is green, and 
the total length about 14 inches, the 
crest consists of two black feathers 
tipped with red, the nape has a yellow 
collar connecting the ear-coverts, the top 
of the front of the head is red, and the 
face black. In the smaller Uvsean 
species (N. uvcensis), confined to Uvsea 
and perhaps Lifu in the Loyalty Group, 
the crest consists of six dark green 
feathers, curving forwards at the tips; 
there is no yellow collar on the neck, the 
middle of the forehead is red, and the 
face dark green. HEAD of uvean parraquet.— After Layard. 
One of the prettiest, 
Budgerigar. / 
and at the same time the best known, of the smaller parraquets is 
the Australian budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus ), also known as the 
Australian love-bird, undulated grass-parraquet, or shell-parraquet, which is 
the sole representative of its genus. It differs from all the members of 
the subfamily yet noticed by the long tail - feathers being narrow and 
acuminate; and is distinguished from the allied genus Nanodes by the absence 
of a notch in the beak. It is widely distributed in Australia, and attains a 
total length of 7| inches, 4 of which are taken up by the tail. Such a well- 
known species as the budgerigar (a term meaning “pretty bird”) requires 
but little description; and this is the more fortunate, as the complex coloration 
renders any exact description somewhat difficult. Its general colour is grass- 
green, with the front of the head primrose-yellow, the tail blue, and the remainder 
of the head, neck, back, and wings mottled with undulating and alternating- 
bands of greyish black and yellow. Each cheek has an oblique patch of blue, 
below which are three round black spots. The male is distinguished by the 
cere being black, instead of brown or cream-coloured, as it is in the female. 
The budgerigar is a very common bird in the neighbourhood of Adelaide, 
where it may be seen in large flocks, either perching on the gum-trees or 
feeding on the ground. Its food consists mainly of seeds; and the female lays 
from four to nine eggs at a time, and produces two broods in the year. Its 
voice is a kind of warble, not devoid of melody, and in constant use. In the 
domestic state these little parraquets breed very freely; and, according to Mr. 
Greene, the great majority of those imported into England are bred on the 
Continent. Although readily tamed, the budgerigar is always apt to bite 
