ENA © 070: CaO, Ixvii

404. Euphema Bourkiu : A : : ‘ : ; ; Wolk Ve Bir as:

Captain Sturt found this species in abundance at the Depot in Central Australia.

Genus Mexopsirrracus, Gould.
Generic characters.

Bill moderate ; cudmen arched ; tomia descending at the base, then ascending and curving downwards to the tip ;

 

nostrils basal, lateral, open, and seated in a broad swollen cere; wings rather long, pointed, first primary very long,
the second the longest ; tail long and much graduated ; tarsi moderate and covered with minute scales ; toes slender,
the outer toe much longer than the inner one.

The only known species of this form is strictly gregarious, assembles in vast flocks, and is admirably adapted

for plains and downs covered with grasses, upon the seeds of which it entirely subsists.

405. Melopsittacus undulatus NV) Vege

In all probability this bird is universally dispersed over the whole of the interior of Australia, since indepen-

dently of its previously known range from Swan River on the west to New South Wales on the east, Mr. Gilbert

 

observed it in every part of the country between Moreton Bay and the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Genus Nympuicus, Vag.

As of Melopsittacus, there is only one species known of this genus. It is strictly Australian, and will doubtless

hereafter be found to be universally distributed over that vast country ; it is equally adapted for the plains, and the

 

two birds are frequently found associated.

406. Nymphicus Novee-Hollandiz NVC) Vee et

There are two distinct varieties of this species, one having a much darker colouring than the other.
3 Do )

Genus Przoporus, IU.

Of this terrestrial form but one species is known, which is very generally distributed over the temperate
portions of Australia, the islands in Bass’s Straits and Van Diemen’s Land. The eggs are laid on the bare ground.

407. Pezoporus formosus . Vole Ve Rik AG

Genus Larnamus, Less.

Of this form only a single species is known to exist in Australia, and that species had been assigned to a
different genus by almost every recent writer on ornithology, Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield placing it in their
genus Nanodes, Wagler in his genus Huphema, &c.; subsequently M. Lesson made it the type of his genus Lathamus,
giving it at the same time the specific appellation of rubrifrons, which must of course give place to that of discolor,
long before applied to it by Latham.

Having had ample opportunities of observing this bird in a state of nature, I concur in the propriety of M.
Lesson’s views in separating it into a distinct genus, at the same time I must remark that in its habits, nidification,
food and whole economy, it is most closely allied to the Trichoglossi or honey-eating Parrakeets, and in no degree

related to the Hupheme.

408. Lathamus discolor VO) nV Aye

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