THE SAVAGE WORLD. 
295 
with green and yellow coat trimmed with black flecks. It loves the ground, 
rarely rising higher than the low branches of a shrub. It has a pheasant shape 
and can run equally as swift, being able to baffle an ordinary dog. It builds 
no nest, but lays its eggs upon the bare ground. 
Ringed Parrakeet (. Paltzornis torquatus ) inhabits Africa and Asia, and is 
a species of a large genus that is frequently mentioned by ancient writers. 
It is chiefly distinguished for having a tail of extraordinary length, double that 
of the body, and for the confiding and affectionate disposition it displays. The 
color is a grass-green on the back, changing to a light blue toward the neck, 
while below the neck is a narrow, rose-colored band joined to one of black that 
swings around the breast till the points reach the eyes. The upper mandible 
is a beautiful coral-red, while the lower is black, being a remarkable variation 
from all other birds. This species has been taught to utter a few words, but 
is not worthy to rank among the talking parrots. 
Yellow-Bellied (. Platycercus caledonicus) and the Rose Hill (P. eximius) 
are both found in Van Diemen’s Land, and are 
habits that they may be included in a single 
paragraph. The former is very beautiful in its 
livery of rich crimson crest and mottled-green 
back, while the breast and throat are yellow. 
The latter is no less charming in a plumage 
of scarlet head, neck and sides, with throat of 
pure white. The cock is a dark green, with 
lighter shades on the tail coverts and. central 
tail feathers. Both species are gregarious, appear¬ 
ing sometimes in such vast numbers as almost 
to darken the sky. Their flight, however, is 
short, and when aroused they quickly settle 
on the ground. They are as much despised by 
the Australians as the English sparrow is by 
us, being inveterate thieves, and an enemy to 
other more useful birds. But they are excellent 
food, and this fact will soon lead to a rapid 
diminution of their number. 
Gray Parrot ( Psittacus erythacus). This is the common name given to 
the most interesting of the parrot species; not because of its plumage, but 
because of the marvellous powers of imitation it possesses, in which faculty it 
has no rivals. This species is a native of West Africa, its range being from 
the Gold Coast to the Gaboon river, where considerable numbers are found. 
Its color is an ashen gray over both back and breast, and a carmine tail, in 
which alone resides any beauty. Great numbers of these birds are imported 
to Europe and America, where they are in popular request for their linguistic 
accomplishments. 
As they build their nests in the hollow of dead trees, the natives have 
little trouble discovering them, and effect a capture of the young by felling the 
tree, in which, however, many are killed. The natives also take the old ones 
by shooting them with blunt arrows, that stun but seldom kill. The young 
are very much preferable, as they are more easily taught if taken before they 
acquire the harsh notes of the older ones. 
so nearly alike in size and 
RINGED PARRAKEET. 
