have received them from Marico and from the northern parts of the
Transvaal.” Mr. Andersson writes as follows:—“ This Parrot is a
rare bird in the middle portion of Damara Land; but further north,
at Okamabute, it is common, and also in the Lake-regions; with the
occasional exception of a few stray individuals, it does not occur
further south than Omabonde, which maybe said to constitute its
usual southern limit. Its habits and notes closely resemble those of
the succeeding species, P. rueppelli. Senor Anchieta has collected it
at Biballa in Mossamedes, and at Caconda in Benguela.”
General colour, dusky brown with a band of yellow across the
crown (sometimes absent); small wing-coverts forming a shoulder -
patch, edge of wing and under wing-coverts, bright yellow; lower
back, rump and upper tail-coverts, bright greenish blue; under
surface of body, dusky brown; the abdominal plumes edged with
bright green; vent and under tail-coverts entirely of the latter
colour; thighs, yellowish, “ bare skin surrounding the eye, black;
bill, darkish horn colour, with a tinge of green; legs and toes,
greenish black; iris, deep bright red orange ” (Andersson). Total
length, 8’5 inches; wing, 6-l ; tail, 3‘0; tarsus, 0'5.
Fig. Rupp. Atl. Taf. 11.
178. ' P s ittacus r u e p pe l l i. Riippell’s Parrot.
Like P. meyeri this is a northern species, but is apparently
plentiful in certain parts of Southern Africa, though not found s© far
south as the foregoing bird, nor does it occur in the eastern parts.
It is found in various localities of Western Africa, and was collected
by Mr. Monteiro in Benguela, where he observed it to be common from
Novo Redondo to Mossamedes. Senor Anchieta has obtained it at
Capangombe in Mossamedes, and also at Humbe on the Ounene river.
Mr. Andersson gives the following note :—“ This species is common
in Damara Land, but is chiefly found in the middle and southern
parts of that country; it is always met with in small flocks of about
half-a-dozen individuals, and seems to prefer the larger kind of
trees. It is rather shy, and when quietly perched amongst the
branches is very difficult to perceive, until its presence is betrayed
by the cries it utters as soon as it conceives itself to be in danger;
these are at first sbrill and isolated, but increase in strength and
frequency till it leaves its perch, and are usually continued during
its flight, which is generally short, but very rapid. It is rarely
found far from water, which it usually frequents twice a day. It
feeds on seeds and berries, sometimes also on the young shoots of
trees and plants.”
General colour both above and below smoky-brown, the . wings
and tail rather darker; sides of face greyish, the ear-coverts
decidedly inclining to silvery-grey; lower back, rump, and upper
tail-coverts, fine blue; smaller wing-coverts forming a shoulder
patch, edge of wing, and under wing-coverts, yellow; thighs,
yellow; vent and under tail-coverts, washed with blue; bill and feet,
dark horn colour ; iris, orange. Mr. Andersson gives the following
remarks on the variation of plumage in this bird :—“ Messrs.
Strickland and Sclater state that the blue on the upper and under
tail-coverts is wanting in the female; but I have now lying before
me more than one individual of that sex in which this blue plumage
is present. I have, however, examined others in which it was
absent, but which, in all other respects, appeared to be adult; whilst
in other quite young specimens, I have found the rump and the
upper tail-coverts nearly as blue as in the adult; and I have also
specimens in which the blue is present both above and below, but
which have none of the usual orange-yellow on the elbow or on the
thigh, but only on the under wing-coverts. Whether or not these
variations are merely accidental, I have been unable to decide.”
Total length, 8-5 inches; wing, 5‘6; tail, 3‘1; tarsus, 05.
Fig.. Gray, P. Z. S. 1848, pi. 5.
179. P sittacus fusc ica p illu s . East African Parrot.
This seems to be as Dr. Kirk remarks, the most common of the
Parrot tribe in Eastern Tropical Africa, and it has been found at
various places from Uzaramo southwards to the Zambesi region;
here Dr. Kirk says it is called “ Goe,” and he states that it is “ usually
found in small flocks or in pairs; feeds on fruits, such as figs, &c.,
but also eats native millet and maize. Its clear scream may be
heard at a great distance ! ”
General colour, above dull green; the quills externally shaded
with obscure bluish green; lower back, rump and upper tail-coverts,
bright green, the latter inclining to yellow; head and neck all
round olive brown; the sides of the face, grey, inclining to hoary
on the ear-coverts; lores, fore part of cheeks and feathers above