_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
APROSMICTUS SCAPULATUS.
King Lory.
_Psittacus scapulatus_, Bechst.: Kuhl, Nova Acta, p. 56.—Shaw, Gen.
Zool., vol. viii. p. 407. pl. 55.
_Psittacus Tabuensis_, var. β, Lath. Ind. Orn., p. 88.
_La Grande Perruche à collier et croupion bleu_, Le Vaill. Hist, des
Perr., pls. 55 and 56.
_Tabuan Parrot_, White’s Journ., pl. in p. 168 male, in p. 169
female.—Phill. Bot. Bay, pl. in p. 153.—Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol.
ii. p. 81.
_Platycercus scapulatus_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
284.—Wagl. Mon. Psitt. in Abhand., tom. i. pp. 492 and 537.—Steph.
Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 122.
_Psittacus cyanopygius_, Vieill., 2nde Edit. du Nouv. Dict. d’Hist.
Nat., tom. xxv. p. 339.—Ibid. Gal. des Ois. Supp., pls. of male and
female.
_Scarlet and Green Parrot_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 116.
_Platycercus scapularis_, Swains. Zool. Ill., 2nd Ser. pl. 26.—Less.
Traité d’Orn., p. 207.
_Aprosmictus scapulatus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., August 9,
1842.
_Wellat_, Aborigines of New South Wales.
This very showy and noble species appears to be extremely local in its
habitat; if I remember rightly, I have not seen it from any other
portion of Australia than New South Wales, in which country it appears
to be almost exclusively confined to the brushes, particularly such as
are low and humid, and where the large _Casuarinæ_ grow in the greatest
profusion. All the brushes stretching along the southern and eastern
coast appear to be equally favoured with its presence, as it there finds
a plentiful supply of food, consisting of seeds, fruits and berries. At
the period when the Indian corn is becoming ripe it leaves its
umbrageous abode and sallies forth in vast flocks, which commit great
devastation on the ripening grain. It is rather a dull and inactive
species compared with the members of the restricted genus _Platycercus_;
it flies much more heavily, and is very different in its disposition,
for although it soon becomes habituated to confinement, it is less
easily tamed and much less confiding and familiar; the great beauty of
the male, however, somewhat compensates for this unpleasant trait, and
consequently it is highly prized as a cage-bird.
I was never so fortunate as to find the nest of this species, neither
could I gather any information respecting this part of the bird’s
economy; and I am inclined to look with suspicion on the account given
by Mr. Caley, as recorded in the Linnean Transactions, which in my
opinion must have reference to the eggs of some other bird.
When fully adult the sexes differ very considerably in the colouring of
the plumage, as will be seen by the following descriptions.
The male has the head, neck and all the under surface scarlet; back and
wings green, the inner webs of the primaries and secondaries being
black; along the scapularies a broad line of pale verdigris-green; a
line bounding the scarlet at the back of the neck, the rump and upper
tail-coverts rich deep blue; tail black; pupil large and black; irides
narrow and yellow; bill scarlet; legs mealy brown.
The female has the head and all the upper surface green; throat and
chest green tinged with red; abdomen and under tail-coverts scarlet;
rump dull blue; two centre tail-feathers green; the remainder green,
passing into bluish black; and with a rose-coloured spot at the
extremity on the under surface.
The young male for the first two years resembles the female, which is
doubtless the cause why so few birds are seen in the bright red dress,
compared with those having a green head and chest.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.
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