Collection of Birds from Western Australia. 161 



p. 566, is no doubt an adult female, as is indicated by the 

 absence of any trace of white spots on the inner webs of 

 the primaries. 



[The Many-coloured Parakeet was not uncommon in the 

 central and western divisions, and was observed flying about 

 iu small flocks.— G. C. S.] 



Barnardius semitorquatus (Quoy & Gaim.). 



Barnardius semitorquatus Math. p. 50. 



a-d. <J et S ? imm. Arthur River, 18th-22nd June. 



e. Imm. Dale River, 16th Dec, 



Iris dark brown ; bill of a whitish horn-colour ; cere and 

 legs dusky. 



Total length, measured in the flesh, 15*5-1 7*25 inches. 



The type-specimen of this species was procured at King 

 George's Sound, South-west Australia. As shown by the 

 description " alis subtiis albo notatis," it was an immature 

 bird and had the breast and belly bright green, with no 

 indication of a yellow band. 



Three specimens in the British Museum from Darling 

 Range, S.W. Australia, presented by Mr. G. Firth Scott, 

 agree with Quoy & Gaimard's description of their Psittacus 

 semitorquatus • likewise an immature male from Arthur 

 River, Wagin, killed by Mr. Shortridge on the 22nd of 

 June. 



Mr. Shortridge also procured at Arthur River, Wagin, at 

 the same time, three specimens (one fully adult and two 

 nearly so) which have a yellow band across the breast, and 

 in this respect approach B. zonarius Shaw, which is found 

 in West Australia and in the interior : they resemble typical 

 B. semitorquatus in all other respects, namely, in their larger 

 size (wing 7Q-7*5 inches), larger bill, and in the fact of 

 their possessing a red band across the forehead. 



It is on birds in this plumage from the Wagin district 

 that Mr. Mathews was at one time disposed to found a new 

 subspecies. But the arguments against adopting this view 

 are, first, that I am by no means sure that the adult of 

 B. semitorquatus does not normally assume a yellow band 



SER. IX. VOL. IV. M 



