4 CHISHOLM. The "Lost" Paradise Parrot. Ti^ffuh" 



The ''Lost" Paradise Parrot 



By A. H. CHISHOLM, R.A.O.U., Stale Secretary, 

 Queensland. 



\\ith apologies to ^Milton, and without irreverence, it may be 

 suggested that it would not he out of place to term the story 

 that here follows, "Paradise Lost and Regained." In brief, it 

 centres on a beautiful (Queensland bird which was known in 

 Europe of old as the Paradise Parrot — a species which suffered 

 so severely towards the cUxse of the last century that it has long 

 been regarded by many ornithologists as extinct — dreadful wc^rd ! 

 — but which has been proved by (Jueenslanders to be, if very 

 rare, still extant. 



It was nearly eighty years ago that John (lill)ert, able coad- 

 jutor of the great John (kjuUI, when carrying out (ornithological 

 work on the then recently-discoxered Darling Downs, shot Par- 

 rots of a species he had not prexiously seen. Gould referred the 

 specimens to the genus Psef^liotus, and, filled with admiration 

 of the beauty of the birds, gave them the specific title of piilcher- 

 r'unus. "The graceful form of this Parakeet," wrote Gould, 

 "combined with the extreme brilliancv of its plumage, renders it 

 one of the most lovely of the Pslttacidae yet discovered; and 

 in whatever light we regard it, whether as a beautiful ornament 

 to our cabinets or a desirable addition to our a\iaries, it is still 

 an object of no ordinary interest." Sui)erlati\es having been 

 wrung from a seasoned ornithologist who saw only lifeless speci- 

 mens of the "most lovely" bird, what was to be expected from 

 those ])ersons fortunate enough to know it in life? But, strangely 

 enough, little was written about the species until the eighties. 

 By that time, api)arently, large num.bers of Gould's Beautiful 

 Parrot had been sent abroad for aviaries, and had become known 

 to the bird-dealers of Piritain and the Continent under the name 

 of Paradise Parrot. 



What a degree of ])opularity and ailniira'ion the shapel\- little 

 Australian enioved (.wV!) is made c\ident bv W. 'P. Greene. 

 M.A., M.D., F.Z.S.. in his finely-illustrated Parrots in Caf^thity. 

 published in London in 1884. After describing the "Beautiful 

 or Paradise Parrot" as more lovely, if ])ossible, than the Many- 

 coloured Parrot (P. nntlfieolor) , the writer says: "Xo one can 

 see it without desiring to possess so beautiful and graceful a 

 bird, ancl large sums are constantly being |)aid for handsome 

 specimens bv amateurs; but alas! one in a dozen sur\ives a few 

 months and — dies suddenl\- in a tit one day." Further, the Rev. 

 F. G. Dutton, a corres|)ondent of Green's, improves on the fore- 

 going tribute by saying soundly. "P'^ef^liotits f^iilclierriniiis, the 

 Paradise Paroquet, as the dealers call it, is not only the most 

 beautiful Pseplwtus, as its name savs. but surely the most beau- 

 tiful Paro(|uet that exists. The vivid emerald green and bril- 

 liant carmine of the cock, l^eautifullv contrasted with the grcv 



