The Seychelles parakeet, or Seychelles Island parrot, is an extinct
species of parrot that was endemic to the Seychelles in the Indian
Ocean, on the islands of Mahé, Silhouette, and possibly Praslin.
Scientifically named Palaeornis wardi by Edward Newton in 1867, it was
later moved to the genus Psittacula, though genetic studies have led
some researchers to suggest it should return to Palaeornis. The parakeet
was about 41 cm (16 in) in length, with a long, pointed tail. The male
was mainly green, with blue on parts of the head, a black cheek-stripe,
a yellowish underside, and a purple-red wing patch. The female lacked
the cheek-stripe and the juvenile resembled the female. The parakeet
associated in groups within forests and flew between communal roost
sites and feeding areas. It adapted to cultivated areas and its diet
included fruit. Though abundant in 1811, it had become rare by 1867 due
to human persecution for its perceived damage to crops. The last
confirmed individual was shot in 1893.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seychelles_parakeet>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1764:
One of the strongest tornadoes in history struck Woldegk,
Germany, killing one person.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1764_Woldegk_tornado>
1864:
A passenger train fell through an open swing bridge into the
Richelieu River near present-day Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, killing as
many as 99 people and injuring 100 others in Canada's worst railway
accident.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St-Hilaire_train_disaster>
1913:
More than 50,000 Union and Confederate veterans gathered at the
Gettysburg Battlefield, the largest combined reunion of American Civil
War veterans ever held.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1913_Gettysburg_reunion>
2003:
An overloaded balcony collapsed in Chicago, United States,
killing 13 people and injuring 57 others.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Chicago_balcony_collapse>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
mahout:
1. (South Asia) An elephant trainer, keeper, and driver.
2. (transitive) To drive (an elephant or elephants).
3. (intransitive) To drive elephants.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mahout>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Already the dandelions Are changed into vanishing ghosts.
--Celia Thaxter
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Celia_Thaxter>