_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PLATYCERCUS PILEATUS, _Vig._
Red-capped Parrakeet.
_Platycercus pileatus_, Vig. in Zool. Journ., vol. v. p. 274.—Lear’s
Ill. Psitt., pls. 21 and 22.—Wagl. Mon. Psitt. in Abhand., pp. 491
and 528.
_Psittacus purpureocephalus_, Quoy et Gaim. Voy. de l’Astrolabe, pl.
22.
_Djȁr-rail-bȕr-tang_, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western
Australia.
_Blue Parrot_ of the Colonists.
The _Platycercus pileatus_ differs so much in the colouring of its
plumage from every other species of the great family of Parrots, as to
render it one of the most remarkable yet discovered; in the form and
structure of its bill there is also a remarkable deviation from the true
_Platycerci_, and it will probably be hereafter found that this
modification of its form is adapted to some especial purpose, in which
case this bird might with propriety constitute the type of a separate
genus; in the absence, however, of all information respecting its habits
and economy, I prefer retaining it in the genus in which it was placed
by Mr. Vigors, its first describer.
The Red-capped Parrakeet is an inhabitant of Western Australia, where it
is rather numerously dispersed over the country from King George’s Sound
to the northern limits of the colony. It is usually seen in small
families feeding on the ground, but upon what particular kind of food it
subsists has not been ascertained. The breeding-season extends over the
months of October, November and December. The hollow dead branch of a
gum- or mahogany-tree is the place usually chosen by the female for the
reception of her eggs, which are milk-white and from seven to nine in
number, about an inch and an eighth long by seven-eighths of an inch
broad. The young during the first year of their existence are of nearly
uniform green; at the same time, the hues which characterize the adult
are perceptible at almost any age.
The females are never so finely marked as the males, neither are they so
large or so gracefully formed.
The flight of this species, although swift, is not of long duration, nor
is it characterized by those undulating sweeps common to the other
members of the genus _Platycercus_.
Its voice is a sharp clucking note, several times repeated, in which
respect it also offers a marked difference from the other _Platycerci_.
Forehead, crown and nape deep maroon red; cheeks yellowish green,
becoming more yellow on the sides of the neck; back, scapularies and
greater wing-coverts deep green; rump jonquil-yellow; edge of the
shoulder, spurious wing and base of the outer webs of the primaries rich
deep blue; remainder of the primaries and the secondaries deep black;
breast and abdomen blue; vent and under tail-coverts scarlet; two centre
tail-feathers yellowish green, deepening into black at the tip and
crossed by indistinct bars of a darker tint; lateral feathers green at
their base, passing into black on their inner webs, and into pale blue
on the outer, both webs becoming blue towards the extremity of the
feather, and fading into white at the tip; irides dark brown; bill
horn-colour; legs and feet dull brown.
The Plate represents an adult male and female of the natural size.
[Illustration:
PSEPHOTUS HÆMATOGASTER: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PSEPHOTUS HÆMATOGASTER, _Gould_.
Crimson-bellied Parrakeet.
_Platycercus hæmatogaster_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p.
89.
This species of Parrakeet is an inhabitant of the interior of New South
Wales, where it frequents the borders of the rivers Namoi and Darling;
in all probability its range extends far to the northward; but, so far
as is yet known, it has never been found in Southern or Western
Australia; I met with it in tolerable abundance in the neighbourhood of
the Lower Namoi, where it appeared to give a decided preference to those
parts of the plains which were of a loose mouldy character, and with
which the colour of its back so closely assimilates as to be scarcely
distinguished from it. Like the other members of the family, it is
mostly observed in small flocks, and occasionally in pairs, feeding upon
the seeds of the various grasses abounding on the plains. It is only
when the bird after a short flight alights on the branches, that the
splendid scarlet of the belly, relieved by the yellow of the sides, is
seen to advantage; when thus seen, however, it is a truly beautiful
object, and is scarcely excelled by any other species of the group.
I did not ascertain any particulars respecting its nidification, but we
may easily suppose that it breeds in the districts above mentioned, as I
met with it there in the height of the summer.
The male has the forehead and face ultramarine blue; crown of the head,
upper surface, sides of the neck and the chest greyish olive-brown,
washed with yellow on the rump and upper tail-coverts; lesser
wing-coverts mingled verditer-green and blue; greater coverts rich
reddish chestnut; basal half of the external webs of the primaries and
secondaries, and edge of the wing rich indigo-blue; under surface of the
shoulder light indigo-blue; inner webs and tips of the primaries dark
brown; apical half of the external web of the primaries fringed with
grey; two centre tail-feathers light olive-green, passing into deep blue
at the tip; the remainder deep blue at the base, largely tipped with
white, the blue gradually blending with the white on the external web;
upper part of the abdomen and flanks primrose-yellow; centre of the
abdomen and under tail-coverts crimson-red; irides dark brown; nostrils
and feet mealy brown; bill horn-colour.
The female differs in being smaller, and in being much less brilliant in
all her markings.
The figures represent the two sexes the size of life.
[Illustration:
PSEPHOTUS PULCHERRIMUS: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PSEPHOTUS PULCHERRIMUS, _Gould_.
Beautiful Parrakeet.
_Platycercus pulcherrimus_, Gould in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., vol.
xv. p. 114.
The graceful form of this new Parrakeet, combined with the extreme
brilliancy of its plumage, render it one of the most lovely of the
_Psittacidæ_ yet discovered; and in whatever light we regard it, whether
as a beautiful ornament to our cabinets, or a desirable addition to our
aviaries, it is still an object of no ordinary interest.
I regret to say that little is at present known respecting it, further
than that it is one of the novelties that has rewarded Mr. Gilbert’s
researches in New South Wales; the upland grassy plains of the east
coast of Australia being the locality in which it was first discovered,
and which is in fact the only part of the country wherein it has as yet
been found. The specimens procured were shot on the Darling Downs, where
it was observed in small families feeding on the seeds of grasses and
other plants growing on the plains; the stomachs of those examined were
fully distended with grass seeds exclusively.
The sexes, like the generality of the _Psittacidæ_, are much alike; but
the female, although similarly marked, is much less brilliant and
somewhat smaller than her mate.
Band across the forehead half an inch in breadth, scarlet, fading around
the eyes, lores and cheeks into pale lemon-yellow, which again gradually
blends with the green of the under surface; crown of the head and nape
blackish brown; sides of the neck to the shoulders verdigris-green with
yellowish reflexions; back greyish brown; rump and upper tail-coverts
verditer-blue, the longer coverts with a band of black at their extreme
tip; primaries and secondaries black edged with bluish green; shoulders
with a spot of rich vermilion; under wing-coverts and edges of the
pinions verditer-blue; two middle tail-feathers olive-brown at the base,
gradually passing into greenish blue at the tip with olive reflexions;
the three outer feathers on each side with a narrow zigzag band of black
at about half their length from the base, then greenish blue to the tip,
the inner webs fading into white near the extremity; throat and chest
yellowish emerald-green, each feather tipped with verditer-blue; middle
of the breast and the sides verditer-blue; abdomen and under
tail-coverts scarlet; irides dark brown; bill horn-colour, becoming
blackish grey at the base; legs and feet yellowish brown.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration: