Psittacus Manillensis, BECHSTEIN; Perruche à collier couleur
de rose, BUFFON; Der Manilische Sittich, BECHSTEIN.
This beautiful species, whose colours are soft and the feathers thick
and silky, is hardly larger than the thrush, though its length is from
fourteen to fifteen inches, two-thirds of which are included in the
tail. The naked membrane is flesh-coloured, the eyelids very red. The
plumage is, in general, light green. From the black throat there extends
a ring round the neck, which is black at first, and afterwards pale rose
colour; the back of the neck in old birds has a blue tint.
In the female the black of the throat is not so wide, there is no
rose-coloured ring, and the under part of the body more nearly
approaches yellow.
OBSERVATIONS.--This species, which is very mild, tame, and beautiful,
is a native of the Philippines, particularly Manilla; some say that
it is also very common in Africa. It is very pleasing, certainly, but
rarely learns to speak, and then only a few words. It must be treated
like other delicate species.