278 Mr.Vicons's and Dr. Honsrrerp's Description of the 
But they are riot equally well adapted to the ground as the spe- 
cies of Platycercus, not having an equal length of tarsus, or the 
saine’ shortness and roundness of wing. The gradual approach, 
however, of the two genera, both in characters and habits, is 
singularly conspicuous. On 
Mr. Caley says of this species, —'* The native name I have 
forgotten. The settlers call it Ground Parrot. It feeds upon 
the ground, Great care is required in taking off the skin, from 
its being particularly fine and thin, and readily torn. The crop is 
generally full of small grass-seeds ; and should it be cut or torn, 
so as to let these seeds out among the feathers, it is with dif- 
ficulty they are got off again, from their having become glu- 
tinous in the stomach. The natives tell me it chiefly breeds in 
a stump of a small White Gum-tree, making no other nest than 
of the decayed parts of the tree. It has eight young ones. The 
eggs are white without spots." ES 
4. VaNusTUs. N. olivaceo-viridis, subtus flavus, teniá frontal, 
tectricibus, rectricibusque lazulinis, harum apice, loris, pert- 
ophthalmiisque flavis, remigibus nigris. 
Psittacus venustus. Temm. Linn. Trans. vol. xiii. p. 121. 
Psittacus chrysostomus. Kuhl, Nova Acta §c. vol, 10. p. 50. 
no.'/8. tab. 1. = dd d ; 
Blue-banded Parakeet. Lath. Gen. Hist. ii. p. 188. no. 109. 
Mr. Caley informs us that this bird is called. by the settlers 
Hobart Ground Parrot. The native name he has not ascertained, 
Our male specimen was brought by that gentleman from Van 
Diemen's Land; the female was procured by Mr. Brown at King 
George's Sound. 
x: Genus. PLATYCERCUS*. 
Rostrum breviusculum, mandibulá superiori rotundata dilatatá, 
* Ilharus latus, and xegxos cauda. 
inferiori 
