Australian Birds in the Collection of the Linnean Society. 285 
me it breeds chiefly in a white Gum-tree (a species of Eucalyp- 
tus), making its nest of a little grass, and lining it with feathers. 
It has as many as twelve young ones. The eggs are of a dirty- 
white with black specks. ‘The nest is found by the bird en- 
larging the hole to creep in at. This process gives the sur- 
rounding part a reddish appearance, which, forming a contrast 
with the whiteness of the other parts, renders it conspicuous." 
Genus. Pzzoronvs. Ill. 
The birds of this genus, which was first characterized by 
M. Illiger, differ essentially from those of the last by the form 
of the tail, which, instead of being broad and depressed, is 
narrow and cuneated, and has the feathers pointed at the apez. 
The toes also seem even still more appropriated to the ground 
than those of Platycercus, being longer and straighter, and the 
nails being less falcated. "The outer webs of the quill-feathers 
are less indented, and the indenture is nearer the apex ; while 
the under mandible also exhibits a slighter emargination than 
in the latter genus, thus evincing a greater recession from the 
groups that approach the Maccaws. "There has hitherto been 
but one species discovered of the genus, which appears confined 
to New Holland. 
1. Formosus. P. viridis, capite nigro-lineato, dorso alis pectoreque 
maculis nigris lunulatis flavo-marginatis, corpore subtus rec- 
tricibusque flavo viridique fasciatis, teniá frontal coccined, 
remigum fascià interruptá flavá. 
Psittacus formosus. Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 103. no. 60. Kuhl, Nova 
Acta 4c. p. 43. no. 64. 
Psittacus terrestris. Shaw, Zool. of New Holl. pl. 3. Nat. Misc. 
298. Lev. Mus. tab. 55. ! 
Perruche ingambe. Le Vaill. Hist. des Perr. pl. 32. 
Ground Parrot. Lath. Gen. Hist. ii. p. 137. no. 40. 
There 
