_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
PLATYCERCUS BAUERI, _Vig. and Horsf._
Bauer’s Parrakeet.
_Psittacus Baueri_, Temm. in Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p.
118.—Donovan’s Nat. Repos., pl 64.
_Psittacus cyanomelus_, Kuhl. Consp. Psitt, in Nov. Act., vol. x. p.
53.
_Bauer’s Parrot_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 120.
_Platycercus Baueri_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
283.—Lear’s Ill. Psitt. pl. 17.—Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool.,
vol. xiv. p. 121.
_Platycercus zonarius_, Wagl. Mon. Psitt. in Abhand., p. 538.
_Psittacus zonarius_, Shaw’s Nat. Misc., pl. 657.—Kuhl, Consp. Psitt.
in Nov. Act., tom. i.
_Psittacus viridis_, Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p. 465.
_Nanodes? zonarius_, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p.
119.
The Bauer’s Parrakeet, although nearly allied to the _Platycercus
semitorquatus_ possesses several characters by which it may be
distinguished from that species; in the first place it is much less in
size, and in the next it has a brighter and more contrasted style of
plumage, the green of the under surface of which is relieved by a
gorgeous band of bright yellow across the abdomen; the rich band of
scarlet which ornaments the front of the _P. semitorquatus_, is also
wanting in the present bird, or if not entirely, the slightest
indication of it and that only in the finest old males is to be seen.
The only portion of Australia from which I have received specimens of
this bird, is Port Lincoln, a harbour visited by Flinders, and where the
original specimen in the Linnean Society’s Collection was obtained. In
habits and disposition it doubtless closely assimilates to the _P.
semitorquatus_, but on these points no information has yet been
obtained. The sexes present a similar contrast in the lesser size and
less brilliant style of colouring of the female. I need scarcely add
that this species was named by M. Temminck in honour of the late Mr.
Ferdinand Bauer, who formed one of the expedition under the command of
Captain Flinders, and whose researches as a naturalist are too well
known to need any further commendation from me. I am indebted to my
much-valued friend J. B. Harvey, Esq., formerly of Teignmouth, but now
resident at Port Lincoln, for the specimens from which my figures were
taken, as also for examples of many other valuable species.
Head and upper part of the neck black, the cheek-feathers tipped with
deep blue; at the back of the neck a broad crescent of bright yellow;
chest, back and wings dark green, passing into verditer green on the
outer webs of the wing-coverts; rump and upper tail-coverts grass-green;
two centre tail-feathers deep green, the next on each side deep green,
tipped with bluish white, the remainder deep green at the base, passing
into bluish white, the blue on the outer margins of the feathers being
of lazuline hue; centre of the abdomen deep gamboge-yellow; remainder of
the under surface yellowish grass-green; primaries, secondaries and
spurious wing-coverts black, with the base of their external webs rich
deep blue; bill horn-colour; feet dark brown.
The Plate represents the two sexes about the natural size.
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