TRICHOGLOSSUS CONCINNUS, Fig. and Horsf.

Musky Parrakeet.

Psittacus Australis, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. i. p. 104.

Psittacus concinnus, Shaw, Nat. Misce., pl. 87 -—Kuhl, Nova Acta, tom. x. p. 46.
Perruche a bandeau rouge, Le Vaill. Perr., tom. i. p. 99. pl. 48.

Pacific Paroquet, Phill. Bot. Bay, pl. in p. 155.

Pacific Parrot, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. ii. p. 87.

Pacific Parrakeet, Psittacus pacificus, Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. viii. p-. 419.
Crimson-fronted Parrakeet, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 181.

Psittacus rubrifrons, Bechst. Uebers der Vog., Lath. s. 84. no. 99.

Trichoglossus concinnus, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Tr
Lathamus concinnus, Less. Traité qd Orns pe 206:
Trichoglossus Australis, Wagl. Mon. Psitt. in Abhand., tom.
Psittacus velatus, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’ Hist. N
Coolich, Aborigines of New South Wales.
Musk Parrakeet, Colonists.

ans., vol. xv. p. 292.—Jard. and Selb. ME Orne savoleie pl. 34.

i. pp. 493 and 549.
at., tom. xxv. p. 373.—Ib. Ency. Meth. Orn., Part III. p. 1405.

ee

Tuts species of Trichoglossus inhabits Van Diemen’s Land,
very generally distributed over all parts of those countries.
western or northern portions of Australia, whence I infer
south-eastern divisions of the continent. Like every other species of the genus, the present bird is always
to be found upon the LKucalypti, whose blossoms afford it a never-failing supply of honey, one or other of the
numerous species of that tribe of trees being in flower at all seasons of the year.

New South Wales and South Australia, and is
I have never heard of its inhabiting either the
that its habitat is restricted to the south and

It is stationary in New
South Wales, but I am not certain that it is so in the more southern country of Van Diemen’s Land, where
it is known by the name of the Musk Parrakeet, from the peculiar odour of the bird.

It isa noisy species, and with its screeching note keeps up a perpetual din around the trees in which
it is located. During its search for honey it creeps among the leaves and smaller branches in the most
extraordinary manner, hanging and clinging about them in every possible variety of position. It generally
associates in flocks, and is so excessively tame that it is very difficult to drive it from the trees, or even
from any particular branch. Although usually associated in flocks it appears to be mated in pairs, which
at all times keep together during flight, and settle side by side when the heat of the sun prompts them
to shelter themselves under the shade of the more redundantly leaved branches.

The eggs, which are dirty white and two in number, are of a rounded form, one inch in length and seven-
eighths of an inch in breadth. Those I obtained were taken from a hole in a large Eucalyptus growing on
the Liverpool range.

The sexes present no difference in colour, and the young assume the plumage of the adult at a very early
age. a

Forehead and ear-coverts deep crimson-red ; at the upper part of the back a broad patch of light te
brown; the remainder of the plumage grass-green ; on the flanks a spot of orange ; primaries and secondaries
black, broadly margined on the external webs with grass-green ; vaste wl all but the inner webs of the lateral
tail-feathers deep red at the base, passing into yellow and tipped with grass-green ; bill blackish brown,
passing into reddish orange at the tip; cere and orbits olive-brown ; irides buff, surrounded by a narrow
circle of yellow. 4

I was not aware, until after the impressions of the present plate had ben printed, nen Die Latham had
applied the specific term of Australis to this bird long before that of es conferred upon it by
Shaw ; a fact, however, with which the accurate Wagler was acquainted, oe which he baspneconded in bis
valuable Monograph of the Psittacide above quoted; the correct appellation of the species is therefore
Trichoglossus Australis, Wagler.

The figures are of the natural size.

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