BIRDS OF NORTH AND MIDDLE AMERICA. 187 



Brotogerys chrysopogon Reichenow, Journ fiir Orn., 1881, 343 (monogr.; Colom- 

 bia; Panama); Consp. Psitt, 1882, 183; Vogelbild., 1882, pi. 28, fig. 5. 



Psittovius subcoeruleus Lawrence, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., vii, 1862, 475 

 (Lion Hill, Panama; coll. G. N. Lawrence; = specimen with yellow coloring- 

 matter of plumage absent). — Sclater, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1864, 367 

 (crit.).— Salvin, Ibis, 1871, 94 (crit.). 



Brotogerys subcoeruleus Finsch, Die Papag., ii, 1868, 97, pi. 2. 



Genus PSITTACULA Illiger. 



Psittacula Illiger, Prodr. Mam. et Av., 1811, 200. (Type, Psittacus passerinus 



Linnagus.) 

 Psittaculus (error) Spix, Av. Bras., i, 1824, 38. 

 Forpus BoiE, Journ. fiir Orn., 1858, 363. (Type, Psittacus passerinus Linnaeus.) 



Very small, '^ short-tailed Psittacidse (length about 100-140 mm.) 

 with tip of tenth (outermost) primary attenuated, tail about half as 

 long as wing, with rec trices acuminate, sexes different in coloration, 

 and furcula undeveloped. 



Bill moderate in size, much deeper than long; depth of maxilla 

 at base much less than its width at same point and equal to about 

 half the length of culmen; maxillary unguis broadly cuneate and 

 obtusely pointed in vertical profile, its width at base of palatal sur- 

 face about equal to its length ; maxillary tomium faintly concave basally 

 and with a more or less prominent angular lobe or "tooth" next to 

 the distinct, angular, post-ungual notch; culmen about as long as 

 middle toe without claw, gradually and strongly decurved from base, 

 rounded; depth of mandible at base less than either its width at 

 base or length of gonys, the mandible very broadly rounded beneath, 

 not distinctly if at all flattened laterally, the slightly but distinctly 

 produced tip more or less flattened and truncate. Wing moderate 

 pointed, the longest primaries exceeding distal secondaries by one- 

 third to two-fifths the length of wing; ninth and tenth, or eighth, 

 ninth, and tenth primaries longest, the tenth (outermost) with tip 

 abruptly attenuated. Tail about half as long as wing, slightly 

 graduated (graduation less than length of gonys), the rectrices 

 acuminate at tip (the outer ones sometimes subacuminate or narrowly 

 rounded) ; tail-coverts extending over much the greater part of tail. 

 Tarsus shorter than middle toe without claw, sometimes shorter 

 than outer hind toe without claw. 



Plumage and coloration. — Head completely feathered, except a 

 small orbital space, chin, and part of cere, the latter naked only as 

 far back as nostrils, which are more or less exposed; plumage in 

 general soft and blended. Colors green and blue (ranging from light 

 greenish blue to dark violet-blue) sometimes with brownish gray or 



« The smallest of American Psittacidse. The genus is further unique among 

 American members of the group in the absence of a furcula, difference in coloration 

 of the sexes, and attenuated tip of the outermost primary. 



