NASITERNA PYGMAZA.

Pygmy Parrot.

Psittacus (Psittacula) pygmaeus, Quoy & Gaim. Voy. de l’Astrol. Zool. i. (1830) p. 232, pl. 21. Hosea ve):
fig. 2/9).

Nastterna pyymea, Wagler, Monogr. Psitt. p. 631 (1832).—Gray, Gen. B. ii. p. 423 (1846).—Bp. Consp. i.
p. 6 (1850).—Id. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 156.—Id. in Naumannia, 1856, Extrah. iv.—Sclater,
Proc. Linn. Soc. ii. p. 166 (1858).—Gray, P.Z.S. 1858, p. 195.—Id. List Psitt. Brit. Mus. p. 52
(1859).—Id. Cat. B. New Guinea, pp. 43, 60 (1859).—Id. P. Z.S. 1861, p. 437.—Schl. J. f. O. 1861,
p. 377.—Rosenb. op. cit. 1862, pp. 63, 64, 68.—Wall. P.Z.S. 1862, p. 165, 1864, pp. 281, 293.—
Rosenb. Tijdschr. Ned. Ind. xxv. p. 226 (1863).—Id. J. f. O. 1863, p. 226.—Bernst. Tijdschr. Ned.
Ind. xxvii. p. 297 (1864).—Id. N. T. D. ii. p. 327 (1865).—Finsch, Neu-Guinea, p. 158 (C1BE5)).—=
Schl. N. T. D. iii. p. 331 (1866, pt.).—Finsch, Papag. i. p. 325 (1867).—Gray, Hand-l. B. ii. p- 168
(1870).—Schl. N. T. D. iv. pp. 5, 7 (1871, pt.).—Id. Mus. P.-B. Psittaci, Revue, eal @USi72) =
Meyer, Sitz. Isis Dresd. 1875, p. 76.—Rosenb. Reist. naar Geelvinkb. p. 56 (1875).—Salvad. Ann.
Mus. Civic. Genov. vii. p. 985 (1875).—Rowley, P. Z.S. 1875, p.470.—Id. Orn. Miscell. 1876, p. 154,
pl. xix. (¢), pl. xx. (¢).—Finsch, ¢. ¢. p. 161 (1876).—Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civic. Genov. x. p. 25 (1877).

Micropsitta pygmea, Less. Compl. Buff. Ois. p. 607, pl., fig. 2 (1838).

Micropsites pygymeus, Bourj. Perroq. pl. c. (1837-38).

Psittacus pygmeus, S. Miill. Verh. Land- en Volkenk. pp. 22, 107 (1839-44).—Schl. HandJ. Dierk. i. p. 480,
pl. ui. no. 37 (1858).

Psittacus (Nasiterna) pygmeus, Schl. Handl. Dierk. i. p. 185 (1858).

Psittacula pygmea, Schl. Dirent. p. 67, cum fig. (1864).—Id. Mus. P.-B. Psittaci, p. 74 (1864),

 

OF the very singular group of diminutive Parrots the MV. pygmea is the oldest known; and a considerable
interval of time elapsed before an addition was made by the discovery of the WM. pusio. The later
explorations, however, that have been made in New Guinea and its surrounding satellites have rewarded
travellers with at least four or five others, to which Professor Schlegel, Dr. Meyer, Count Salvadori, and
others have applied specific appellations. That more still remain hidden in the forests of Papuana is
probable. Up to this time (1878) I consider there are seven species only for me to deal with in the
present work. These have many characteristics in common :—first, their very diminutive size and dispro-
portionately large bills when contrasted with the body; the structure of their feet and greatly prolonged
outer hind toe are peculiarities, as is also the spiny terminations of the four or six central tail-feathers. The
group to which the Masiterné are most nearly allied appears to me to be Cyclopsitta, a section of little
Parrots inhabiting the same country. Although all the species of Nast¢erna are remarkable for their tiny
size, and a somewhat general resemblance reigns throughout the whole group, yet differences are to be detected.
These distinctions may be readily seen by turning to the various Plates representing the species, and be
rendered more intelligible than by written explanations.

Count Salvadori, who has in the most liberal manner forwarded me all the information and synonymy of
the present group of birds, extracted from his forthcoming work on the ornithology of New Guinea, has also
kindly sent me notes on the several species. ‘This Parrot (Nasiterna pygmea) whabits New Guinea,
Salwatty, Waigiou, Guebeh, Mysol, and Koffiao. In New Guinea it has been found near Dorey,
where it was first discovered, as well as in the neighbourhood of Andai, Dorey-Hum, and Mtanata. I have
seen specimens from all these localities. The late Mr. G. R. Gray mentions the Louisiade archipelago as
one of the habitats ; but if a Mastterna really occurs there, it would doubtless be specifically distinct.
The same may be said of the island of Jobi, where Von Rosenberg asserts the existence of N. pygmea,
though no specimen of a Nastterna from that island is contained in the Leiden Museum.

“I lately examined the two specimens in the latter collection from the Aru Islands, mentioned by Schlegel
as differing from those of New Guinea in the ochraceous yellow colour of the pileum. These specimens,
which were in rather bad condition, seemed to me to be not different from my WV. keiensis ; and if this proves
to be the case, the latter name is not a very appropriate one for the species.