Psittacus Luziani, Vrrx.

Luzian's Parrakeet (Ger., Prinz Luzians Edelsittich, Bartsittich, Luziansittich; Fr., Perruche de Luzian; Dut., Luzians Edelparhiet) - Description - Habitat - Rarity.

A green Parrakeet with a blackish-green band on the forehead; the crown and back of the head a reddish-grey-green; the lores, and the spot on the chin, black; the sides of the head vermilion; the nape and back of the neck rose-coloured yellow; the back pale green; the quills darker green, a blackish-green on the reverse side; the reverse side of the tail feathers greyish-yellow; the throat grey; the neck, and upper part of the breast, yellowish-green; all the rest of the under parts of the body green; the upper mandible vermilion, the lower black; the eyes yellowish-white; the feet black. In the female, or young bird, the plumage varies; the sides of the head are dark red; the crown of the head green; the beak black; otherwise similar. The male bird may be distinguished from the Javan Parrakeet by the absence of the yellow spot on the shoulder, and the red breast; besides having a stouter beak and being much larger.

According to Sclater, it is a native of China. It was described by Verreaux, in 1850, from a living specimen in the Zoological Garden at Amsterdam; a second appeared in Van Aken's menagerie; and a third in the London Zoological Gardens in 1857. Since then this parrakeet has been seen now and then in the market, and the wholesale dealer, Henry Muller, of Hamburg, had a beautiful male bird in full plumage, which was quite tame and spoke several phrases distinctly. Two specimens were sent to the Zoological Garden at Hamburg, in 1880, and the bird-dealer, Mr. Dieckmann, of Hamburg, offered a couple for £6 in 1882. Hence we may expect that these beautiful birds will sooner or later prove welcome additions to the European bird markets.