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

_______________________________ 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

_____________________________ 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

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Already the dandelions Are changed into vanishing ghosts.   --Celia Thaxter https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Celia_Thaxter