_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
TRICHOGLOSSUS PUSILLUS, _Vig. and Horsf._
Little Parrakeet.
_Psittacus pusillus_, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 106.—Shaw, Gen.
Zool., vol. viii. p. 471.—Kuhl, Nova Acta, tom. x. p. 47.
_Perruche à face rouge_, Le Vaill. Perr., tom. i. p. 124. pl. 62.
_Small Parrakeet_, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 88.
_Small Paroquet_, _Psittacus pusillus_, Shaw in White’s Journ., pl. in
p. 262.
_Small Parrot_, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 194.
_Trichoglossus pusillus_, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p.
293.—Wagl. Mon. Psitt. in Abhand., tom. i. pp. 493 and 548.
_Lathamus pusillus_, Less. Traité d’Orn., p. 206.
_Jerryang_, Aborigines of New South Wales.
This familiar species, the least of the Australian _Psittacidæ_ yet
discovered, enjoys a range of habitat precisely similar to that of the
_Trichoglossus concinnus_, being dispersed over the whole of New South
Wales, South Australia and Van Diemen’s Land; it is, however, more
sparingly diffused over the latter country. I found it tolerably
abundant and killed several specimens on Maria Island, near the entrance
of Storm Bay. On the continent of Australia it is not only to be found
in the same districts and at the same seasons of the year as _T.
concinnus_, but it is more frequently observed in company with that
species than alone; flocks of each often occupying the same tree, and
even the same branch, all busily engaged in extracting their nectarine
food. Like its near ally, the present bird creeps about under and among
the leaves with the greatest facility, and like the other members of the
group, appears to be always associated in pairs. As might be expected
from the structure of its wing, which is admirably adapted for rapid
progression, it flies through the air with arrow-like swiftness.
I succeeded in finding the breeding-places of this species, and on the
11th of October 1839, procured four eggs from a hole in a small branch
of a lofty _Eucalyptus_, growing on the flats at Yarrundi on the Upper
Hunter. The eggs were white and of an oval form, nine lines and a half
long by seven lines and a half broad.
In Western Australia this species is represented by the _Trichoglossus
porphyrocephalus_, and on the north coast by the _T. versicolor_. It
would appear to inosculate with its western ally in South Australia,
both being equally numerous there, around, and even upon the trees
within the city of Adelaide.
The sexes are similar in plumage and differ but little in size; the
female is, however, rather more diminutive than her mate.
Face deep red; back of the neck brown; all the remainder of the plumage
grass-green; primaries, secondaries and greater coverts black, margined
externally with grass-green; two centre tail-feathers and outer webs of
the remainder grass-green; the inner webs of the lateral feathers fine
red at the base, passing into greenish yellow towards the tip; bill
black; cere and orbits dark olive-brown; irides orange, surrounded by a
narrow line of yellow.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration:
PTILINOPUS SWAINSONII: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del^t._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
PTILINOPUS SWAINSONII, _Gould_.
Swainson’s Fruit Pigeon.
_Ptilinopus purpuratus_, var. Regina, Swains. Zool. Journ., vol. i. p.
474?
_Columba purpurata_, Jard. and Selb. Ill. Orn., vol. ii. pl. 70.
_Ptilinopus Swainsonii_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., February 8,
1842.
Considerable confusion has existed respecting the very beautiful birds
constituting the genus _Ptilinopus_, as to whether they are so many
species or merely varieties, and I quite agree with Messrs. Jardine and
Selby when they say in their ‘Illustrations’ above quoted, “We strongly
suspect that more than one species is involved among these different
varieties, which some one in possession of them may hereafter be enabled
to determine; and their varied geographical distribution tends
considerably to strengthen this opinion.” There are in fact several
species of this beautiful form so closely allied that at a casual glance
they would be considered as identical, but on a careful comparison their
specific differences will be clearly perceived. At least two of them are
natives of Australia, the remainder being distributed over the Indian
and Polynesian Islands. The present bird has by many authors been
considered either as identical with or as a mere variety of the _Columba
purpurata_, Auct., but if compared with that species it will be found to
possess characters sufficiently different to warrant its being
characterized as distinct; I have therefore named it after Mr. Swainson,
the author of the genus to which it belongs, as a slight testimony of
the respect I entertain for the talents of one who has done so much
towards the advancement of ornithology, at once the most interesting and
popular branch of the science of natural history.
The specimens from which my figures were taken are from the brushes of
the River Clarence, situated between the Hunter and Moreton Bay; in the
last-mentioned district it is tolerably abundant, the dense and
luxuriant brushes affording it a congenial habitat and breeding-place. I
have received both the young and the adults from this locality, but as I
have never myself seen them in a state of nature, I am unable to give
any account of their habits or economy. The sexes are so nearly alike in
colouring that dissection alone can distinguish them with certainty.
Forehead and crown deep crimson-red, surrounded except in front with a
narrow ring of light yellow; back of the neck greyish green; all the
upper surface bright green tinged with yellow, the green becoming deep
blue towards the extremities of the tertiaries, which are broadly
margined with yellow; primaries slaty grey on their inner webs and green
on the outer, very slightly margined with yellow; tail-feathers deep
green, largely tipped with rich yellow; throat greenish grey, stained
with yellow on the chin in some specimens and greyish white in others;
breast dull green, each feather forked at the end and with a triangular
silvery-grey spot at each extremity; flanks and abdomen green, with a
large patch of orange-red in the centre of the latter; under
tail-coverts orange-yellow; thighs green; irides reddish orange; bill
greenish black and horn-colour at tip; feet olive brown.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration:
PTILINOPUS EWINGII: _Gould_.
_J. Gould and H.C. Richter del._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
PTILINOPUS EWINGII, _Gould_.
Ewing’s Fruit Pigeon.
_Ptilinopus Ewingii_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., February 8, 1842.
This lovely species, which is a native of the Cobourg Peninsula, and
doubtless ranges over the northern coast of Australia generally, differs
from the preceding, _Ptilinopus Swainsonii_, in being much smaller in
all its admeasurements, in the colour of the crown being rose-pink
instead of crimson-red; in the breast being pale greenish grey instead
of dull green; in having the centre of the abdomen rich orange instead
of lilac; and also in having the tail-feathers tipped with greenish
yellow instead of clear rich yellow. The specimens from which my figures
are taken were fully adult, and were submitted to dissection in order to
ascertain the sexes; consequently I am fully convinced, that, although
the present and preceding species are very nearly allied, they are
specifically distinct.
In naming the second Australian species of this beautiful form after the
Rev. Thomas J. Ewing, at present residing in Van Diemen’s Land, I am
actuated by a desire to pay a just compliment to one who is perhaps more
thoroughly versed in the productions of writers on the interesting
science of ornithology than most other persons, and, although so far
removed from the seats of knowledge, continues to prosecute his studies
with the utmost ardour; I feel assured therefore, that, however
objectionable the naming of species after individuals may be under
ordinary circumstances, it will not in this instance be deemed an
inappropriate mode of evincing my sense of the many admirable qualities
of a highly esteemed friend.
Forehead and crown of the head rose-pink, bordered with a narrow line of
yellow, except in front; back of the head and neck greenish grey; all
the upper surface bright green, passing into deep blue on the
tertiaries; primaries, secondaries and tertiaries slightly margined with
yellow; tail largely tipped with yellow, tinged with green, particularly
on the two centre feathers; chin pale yellow; sides of the neck greenish
grey; chest pale greenish grey, each feather forked at the end and
tipped with grey; below the chest an indistinct band of sulphur-yellow;
flanks and lower part of the abdomen green; centre of the abdomen rich
orange, in the middle of which is a lunar-shaped mark of lilac; under
tail-coverts orange; thighs and tarsi green; irides orange; feet olive.
The figures are of the natural size.
[Illustration: