_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PLATYCERCUS IGNITUS, _Leadb._
Fiery Parrakeet.
_Platycercus ignitus_, Leadb. in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 8.
In the year 1837 Mr. John Leadbeater received from the district of
Moreton Bay a beautiful Parrakeet, of which the accompanying Plate is a
representation. This specimen, the only one I have seen, is the most
singular and anomalous bird that has ever come under my notice; for
while on the one hand it exhibits many features which would lead one to
believe it to be merely a diseased variety of some other species, on the
other there is sufficient decision in some of its markings to warrant
the opinion that it is distinct; I allude particularly to the decided
mark of white at the base of the primaries and secondaries, and to the
white mark on the under-coverts of the wing: it is true that in the
youthful state of most of the other _Platycerci_ the same parts have a
faint mark of white, but it is thrown off as the bird approaches
maturity, and is never so distinct as in the specimen here figured. As I
have mentioned above, only one specimen has yet been seen; future
research will doubtless lead to the discovery of others, until when its
specific value must remain a matter of uncertainty. It is most nearly
allied to the _Platycerci eximius_ and _splendidus_.
The example from which my figures were taken adorns the Museum of the
Zoological Society of London, to which it was presented by Mr. John
Leadbeater.
Crown of the head, ear-coverts, rump, breast and under surface of the
body scarlet; cheeks white; feathers of the back black in the centre,
and margined with intermingled scarlet and yellow; middle of the wing
deep blue; primaries and secondaries white at the base, forming a very
broad and decided band, and brown at the tip; tertiaries green; four
middle tail-feathers washed with scarlet, the remainder white at the
base, and then blue, gradually fading into white at the tip; bill
yellowish horn-colour; feet dark brown.
The figures represent the bird in two positions of the natural size.
[Illustration: