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.
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.