Читать книгу The Natural History of Cage Birds - Bechstein Johann Matthäus - Страница 39

1. The Blossom-headed Parrakeet, Latham; Psittacus erythrocephalus, Linnæus; Perruche à tête rouge de Gingi, Buffon; Der Rothköpfige Sittich aus Gingi, Bechstein.

The head is red, having on the back a mixture of light blue. A narrow black line passes from the chin to the nape of the neck; another line, of light green, below the former, forms with it a ring round the neck. The rest of the plumage is green, but the under part of the body has a tint of light yellow. The tail is green above, having the inner border light yellow.

2. The Rose-headed Ring Parrakeet, Latham; Psittacus erythrocephalus Bengalensis, Linnæus; Petite Perruche à tête couleur de rose longs brins, Buffon; Der Rothköpfige Sittich aus Bengalen, Bechstein.

The upper mandible is light yellow, the lower black, the membrane brownish. The top of the head and cheeks are rose coloured, the back of the head blue, the throat and ring like the preceding variety, as well as the red spot on the wing-coverts; the two centre feathers of the tail are blue, the others green, edged with blue.

3. The Borneo Parrakeet; Psittacus erythrocephalus Borneus, Linnæus; Perruche à tête rouge de pêcher de Borneo; Der Rothköpfige Sittich aus Borneo, Bechstein.

The upper mandible is red, the under black, the membrane ash-coloured, the iris the same; the whole head is peach-blossom, with a green tint on the forehead; there is a black line between the eyes, near the membrane of the beak; another extends from the lower mandible obliquely on each side of the neck, widening on the back. The upper part of the body to the tail is light green, shading to light yellow towards the middle of the wing-coverts; all the under part from the chin is peach blossom, tinged with chestnut colour; the feathers of the thighs, the tail-coverts, and the middle of the belly, are green; the feathers of the tail are the same, but the centre ones are rather brown, and all are spotted with white.

Observations. – This parrakeet, so easily distinguished by its plumage, is lively, fearful, and its cry is frequent. It learns nothing of itself, and it is with great difficulty that it can be made to repeat a few words. I have seen it, with the preceding and following species, among the beautiful collection of birds belonging to his Highness the Duke of Meiningen.