from the Northern Moluccas. 349 



ally raised in the ocean by volcanic agency. ^Miile this was 

 going on, it would be peopled by stragglers from the surround- 

 ing countries, and an overwhelming proportion of Gilolo species 

 would naturally result from the proximity of that island. The 

 species of Tanysiptera and Trojndorhynchus, which, from being 

 generally very local, we may conclude to be peculiarly subject 

 to modification, are those which have undergone the greatest 

 amount of change, and already present us with well-marked spe- 

 cific characters. 



LORICULUS AMABILIS. 



Dark green above, lighter green beneath, middle of the back 

 and under tail-coverts yellowish green ; crown of the head, rump, 

 and upper tail-coverts, a spot on the throat, and the outer bend 

 of the wings bright red ; quills black, on the upper side with the 

 outer web green, beneath with the inner web blue ; tail green 

 above, blue beneath, with a minute yellowish spot at the apex of 

 each feather. The female wants the red on the crown, and has 

 a more brownish tinge between the shoulders. 



Bill black ; feet light red. 



Total length ^ 4^ in., ? 4| in., wing 2| in. 



Hab. Gilolo. 



Remark. — This beautiful bird is a minute copy of the L. stig- 

 matus of Celebes, from which it differs a little in colour and in 

 the greatly developed upper tail-coverts, which completely hide 

 the tail, and sometimes extend beyond it. 



Tanysiptera doris. 



Black, slightly tinged with deep blue, which is more distinct 

 on the ear-coverts, nape, and shoulders ; crown and lesser wing- 

 coverts verditer blue ; a large spot in the middle of the back, 

 rump, throat, breast, and bellyj white, slightly rufous-tinged; 

 tail white, with the outer web of all the feathers blue above and 

 dusky beneath ; two middle feathers entirely blue above, except 

 the spatula-tips and a portion of inner web at the base, which 

 are white ; under wing-coverts white, mixed with black at the 

 base and on the shoulder-margins ; sides of breast and belly 

 blackish. 



Bill deep orange-red; feet dark olive. 



