NASITERNA PUSI(¢ ), Sclater.
Solomon-Islands Pygmy Parrot.

Nasiterna pusio, Sclater, P. Z.S. 1865, p. 620, pl. 35.—Finsch, Die Papag. i. p. 327 (1867).—Sclater, P. Z.S.
1869, pp. 124, 126.—Gray, Hand-l. B. ii. p. 168. no. 8382 (1870).—Schlegel, N. T. D. iv. p.5 (1871),
—Ramsay, Tr. Linn. Soc. N. 8S. W. i. p. 67 (1876).—Rowley, Orn. Misc. p. 155, pl. xxi. (1876).—
Finsch, tom. cit. p. 163 (1876).—Sclater, P.Z.S. 1877, p. 108. no. 38.—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic.
Genov. x. p. 26. no. 14 (1877).

Nasiterna pygmea solomonensis, Schl. N. T. D. iv. p. 7 (1877).

 

For a great many years Nasiterna pygmea remained the only representative of the genus known; and the
present kind was the second discovered

 

the forerunner, as it has proved, of no less than five others with
which we are now acquainted. The original specimens were sent over in spirits by Mr. Gerard Krefft to
Dr. Sclater ; and the typical example is now preserved in the British Museum, where I have myself examined
it. It has lately been noticed by Dr. Sclater in his paper on the birds collected by Mr. George Brown in
Duke-of-York Island and New Ireland; but no locality was given for the specimen, and so we do not know
the exact origin of this individual, though there can be no doubt that it came from one or the other of the
above-mentioned islands. The typical birds were said to be from the Solomon Islands; but we shall want
confirmatory evidence on this point, as the recent collections from this locality have not contained any
examples of a Mastterna, and it is just possible that they may have come from New Ireland; on the other
hand, the species may possibly be found in both groups of islands.

Count Salvadori writes :—‘‘ This species comes very near to WV. beccarv, from which it differs in the blue
colour of the crown being less extended and of a duller shade, in the somewhat ochraceous brown colour of
the forehead and sides of the head, in the more yellowish colour of the middle of the belly, and in the longer
wings. I have seen four specimens of this Pygmy Parrot, viz.:—the type in the British Museum ; one in the
Zoological Museum of Turin, received from Mr. Krefft during the voyage of the ‘Magenta ;’ another in the
Museum of Berlin, also received from Mr. Krefft; and, lastly, a specimen received from Mr. Brown without
indication of the locality.”

The description given below was also forwarded to me by Count Salvadori :—‘‘ Green, the underparts
lighter and a little tinged with yellowish down the centre of the belly; crown dull blue, the forehead and
sides of the head brown, with a slight ochraceous tinge; tail and wings as in WV. beccarv. Size a
little larger than the latter bird.” Total length 3-4 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2°5, tail 2°2.

To the above description of Count Salvadori I have only to add that the black spot on the centre tail-
feathers is Jarger than in most of this species.

The lower figure in the Plate was drawn from the British-Museum specimen ; and the upper figure is
taken from Mr. Brown’s bird above mentioned. They are of the natural size.