(( Perroquet mascarin '^ of Brisson. 307 



and described the various Parrots observed by him on the 

 latter island, including one which is clearly the present bird 

 {cf. Ibis, /. c. p. 286). 



As regards the systematic position of Mascarinus duboisi, 

 the available material is so scanty that we shall probably never 

 (for the bird is certainly extinct) be able to arrive at any satis- 

 factory conclusion about it. In the form of the beak, the fea- 

 thered nostrils and lores, the narrow orbital ring, and the 

 structure of its feet, it more resembles the genera Tamjfjnathus 

 and Palceornis than any of the African genera of Parrots now 

 existing {Psittacus, Coracopsis, Poeocephalus, and Ayapornis) ; 

 and the forms of the wings and tail point to a similar con- 

 clusion. In its general coloration it is decidedly aberrant ; 

 but the fact of its beak being red is also a confirmation of its 

 Palseornithine affinities. Prof. Garrod having shown (P. Z. S. 

 1874, p. 598) that none* but species with normal carotids 

 (a group including Palceornis, Tany gnathus , kc, but not Co- 

 racopsis, Psittacus, and Poeocephalus) have their beaks so 

 coloured. We already know that in both Mauritius and 

 Rodriguez a very different genus f of Parrots existed in each 

 island, along with a species of Palceornis, and therefore there 

 is no prima facie reason against a similar state of things 

 having also been the case in Jjourbon. On the other hand 

 there is no evidence that Coracopsis ever occurred in a state 

 of nature on any of these three islands. 



To briefly recapitulate, then, I submit : — 



(1) That the "Perroquet mascarin^'' of Brisson belongs to 

 a genus, Mascarinus, distinct from Coracopsis. 



(2) That, failing any older name that can with propriety 

 be applied to it, it may be termed 3Iascarinus duboisi. 



(3) That, so far as can be judged from the material that 

 exists, Mascarinus is allied rather to such Palgeornithine genera 

 as Palceornis and Tanygnathus than to Psittacus, Coracopsis, 

 or allied forms. 



Cambridge, May 8, 1879. 



* Pionus corallinus is the only exception to the above rule that I have 

 yet met "ndth. 



t LophopsiUacus and Neeropsittacus. 



