(PLATE 19.)
_Palaeornis exsul_ A. Newton, Ibis 1872, p. 33.
Leguat was the first to mention these parrots as "Perroquets verds et
bleus," and that they were wonderfully good to eat and also delightful
pets.
Professor Newton's description is as follows: "Female: Of moderate size.
General appearance greyish-glaucous, darker above than beneath. From the
corner of the mouth proceeds an ill-defined dull black chin stripe, which
becomes broader as it passes backward and upward, ceasing somewhat abruptly
on reaching the level of the ears. Head, nape and shoulders, upper
wing-coverts, and rectrices above dull greyish-glaucous, the blue tinge in
which predominates when the bird is seen against the light, and the green
when seen in the contrary aspect; the outer rectrices paler. Rump verditer
blue. Primaries with their outer, and most part of their inner, webs deep
greenish blue, the former with narrow, lighter edges, and the latter
broadly bordered with pitch black; shafts and lower surfaces greyish black.
Secondaries much the same as the primaries, but of a still deeper shade.
Breast dull greyish-glaucous, but lighter than the upper parts and passing
on the belly into verditer, which becomes lighter and greener on the vent.
Rectrices beneath yellowish grey, darker toward the tips of the longer
feathers. Bill black."
The specimen was sent in spirits to Sir Edward Newton in 1871 by Mr.
Jenner, the Magistrate of Rodriguez.
The male differs from the female in having the upper mandible crimson,
fading into horn at the tip. Top of head more glaucous. Black stripe from
nostril to eye. Black chin stripe prolonged almost to meet on nape of neck.
Most of primaries with dull black patch on inner webs. Middle secondaries
dusky black.
The male was sent to Sir Edward Newton in 1875 by Mr. J. Caldwell.
Total length 16 inches.
Wing 7.5 "
Tail 8.5 "
Probably almost if not quite extinct. Recent investigations about its
status are very desirable.