_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _Hullmandel & Walton Imp._
]
PSEPHOTUS MULTICOLOR.
Many-coloured Parrakeet.
_Psittacus multicolor_, Temm. in Linn. Trans., vol. xiii. p.
119.—Kuhl, Consp. Psitt. in Nova Acta, vol. x. p. 55.
_Varied Parrot_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 182.
_Platycercus multicolor_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
283.—Wagl. Mon. Psitt. in Abhand., vol. i. p. 528.
This species is strictly an inhabitant of the interior of Australia,
being-found on the banks of the Lachlan, Murray and Darling, and
according to the label attached to the specimen in the Sydney Museum,
the neighbourhood of the Pink Hills. It is a true _Psephotus_ and is
closely allied to _P. hæmatonotus_, but differs from that and every
other species of the genus in the patches or bands of colour which
ornament the head, wings and rump; it is a species I did not meet with
myself, and of which no information has been given by those travellers
who have visited its native wilds; consequently nothing whatever is
known of its habits and economy; it is still a rare bird, and to be
found in few collections.
Much variation is found to exist in the colouring of this bird; some
individuals having the band across the wing-coverts bright yellow, while
in others the same part is tinged with red.
The adult male has the forehead and shoulders sulphur-yellow; under
tail-coverts citron-yellow; rump crossed by three distinct bands of
yellowish green, dark green, and reddish chestnut; occiput reddish
chestnut; base of the primaries, secondaries and spurious wing, and the
under wing-coverts rich deep blue; lower part of the abdomen and thighs
scarlet; middle tail-feathers blue; the outer ones bluish green, passing
into very pale blue at their tips; all the tail-feathers, except the
four middle ones, crossed by a band of black near the base; remainder of
the plumage deep grass-green; bill horny brown; legs wood-brown.
The female is attired in a similar style of colours, but is much less
brilliant, has the throat and breast yellowish brown, and only an
indication of the bands on the occiput and wing-coverts.
The Plate represents the two sexes of the natural size.
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