T H E PARROT FINCH.
Erxlliriira psit/acca, GMEL.
L O V E L Y little bird and ;in inhabitant of New Caledonia. Coming froni thi,s
reniote locality, it naturally commands ,so high a price, that it is onlj- within
the reach of fairl_v well-to-do amateurs. Whether it will ever be imported^ in
sufficient numbers to ejiable the less wealthy purchaser to add it to his collection,
seems doubtful. The adult male above is bright grass green, including the upper
wing-coverts and inner secondaries; the remaining flight-feathers are dull brown,
witli greenish edges, those of the primaries being yellower ; the hinder back,
upper tail-coverts, forehead, eyebrow, sides of face, ear-coverts, throat and front of
neck carmine red; remainder of body below grass-green-; tail feathers blackish,
with dull crimson margins ; under wing coverts pale yellow ; flights below dusky,
\\dth \-ellowish along the inner webs. Length 4,+ inches. Beak brownish black,
feet smoky brown; iris dark brown. vSexes alike.
Dr. Rnss says:—"Wiener in 1877 came into possession of three examples,
which soon made themselves at home in a large flight-cage and appeared sprightly
and sociable, more agile and graceful than the allied species (The Pintailed
Nonpareil). They also soon built a nest ; Laying, four eggs ; incubated and fledged
four young. A^est in a high-hanging Hartz cage with entrance hole, of Aloe
iibres, with deep overarched cup. Several broods followed in succession. Yoiiri.g
phimaoc pale greenish-brown without red colouring on the head and breast; only
faint red at the base of the beak ; beak yellow, feet bright yellowish grej'. At
the age of about three months; scarlet-red dots on the head, throat and breast,
which became more distinct from week to week. Mr. AViener .sent a young one
of the iirst brood to the exhibition of the " Ornis" Society of Berlin in 1877.*
Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha informed me that he had already seen a
pair in 1873 belonging to Monsieur Geoffrey St. Hilaire of Paris. ?Ie purchased
two pairs from Mr. Wiener, each for 100 Marks (a little under A more
W'iener say.s Uiat the three others ^vere nccidentallv killed.