PLATYCERCUS BAUERL, Vig. and Horsf:

Bauer’s Parrakeet.

Psittacus Baueri, Temm. in Linn. Trans., vol. xii. p. 118.—Donovan’s Nat. Repos., pl. 64.

Psittacus cyanomelus, Kubl. Consp. Psitt. in Nov. Act., VO le xanps Oo

Bauer’s Parrot, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ii. p. 120.

Platycercus Baueri, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 283.—Lear’s Ill. Psitt. pl. 17.—Steph. Cont. of
Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xiv. p. 121.

Platycercus zonarws, Wagl. Mon. Psitt. in Abhand., p. 538.

Psittacus zonarius, Shaw’s Nat. Misc., pl. 657.—Kuhl, Consp. Psitt. in Nov. Act., tom. 1.

Psittacus viridis, Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. vil. p. 465.

Nanodes ? zonarius, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. LOO Ole xian leno:

 

Tur Bauer’s Parrakeet, although nearly allied to the Platycercus semitorquatus, possesses several characters
by which it may be distinguished from that species ; in the first place it is much less in size, and in the next
it has a brighter and more contrasted style of plumage, the green of the under surface of which is relieved by
a gorgeous band of bright yellow across the abdomen; the rich band of scarlet which ornaments the front of
the P. semitorquatus, 1s also wanting in the present bird, or if not entirely, the slightest indication of it and
that only in the finest old males is to be seen. The only portion of Australia from which I have received
specimens of this bird, is Port Lincoln, a harbour visited by Flinders, and where the original “specimen in
the Linnean Society’s Collection was obtained. In habits and disposition it doubtless closely assimilates to
the P. semitorquatus, but on these points no information has yet been obtained. The sexes present a
similar contrast in the lesser size and less brilliant style of colouring of the female. I need scarcely add
that this species was named by M. Temminck in honour of the late Mr. Ferdinand Bauer, who formed one
of the expedition under the command of Captain Flinders, and whose researches as a naturalist are too
well known to need any further commendation from me. I am indebted to my much-valued friend
J. B. Harvey, Esq., formerly of Teignmouth, but now resident at Port Lincoln, for the specimens from
which my figures were taken, as also for examples of many other valuable species.

Head and upper part of the neck black, the cheek-feathers tipped with deep blue; at the back of the
neck a broad crescent of bright yellow ; chest, back and wings dark green, passing into verditer green on
the outer webs of the wing-coverts ; rump and upper tail-coverts grass-green ; two centre tail-feathers deep
green, the next on each side deep green, tipped with bluish white, the remainder deep green at the base,
passing into bluish white, the blue on the outer margins of the feathers being of lazuline hue ; centre of the
abdomen deep gamboge-yellow ; remainder of the under surface yellowish grass-green; primaries,
secondaries and spurious wing-coverts black, with the base of their external webs rich deep blue ; bill horn-
colour; feet dark brown.

The Plate represents the two sexes about the natural size.