282 On the Parrots of the Genus Eclectus. 



On the whole it seems probable that we must be content 

 with ascribing to Eclectus the most marked sexual differences 

 in colour of any Parrots hitherto known. Aprosmictus (at 

 least in some species, e. g. A. scapulatus) also pi-esents very 

 well-marked sexual differences in coloration, and, as Prof. 

 Garrod has shown (P. Z. S. 1874, p. 494), agrees very closely 

 with Eclectus in anatomical structure. Eclectus, however, 

 differs from all known Parrots in having the female more 

 gaudily coloured than the male. Can it be possible that, as 

 in the few other analogous instances where the female is the 

 more brightly coloured (e.g. Turnix, Rhynch(Ba, &c.^), the 

 duties of incubation devolve on the male ? If such be the 

 case, we can easily understand the use of the green coloration 

 being retained by the male. Unfortunately we are still 

 totally ignorant of the habits, nidification, and immature 

 plumage of these Parrots. Let us hope that Signor D'Albertis 

 or Mr. Brown will soon throw some light on this, as well as 

 on the other interesting points noted above, which still re- 

 quire further examination. 



In conclusion, supposing that we assume the new views as 

 to the sexual differences of the Eclecti to be correct, the fol- 

 lowing list of the species will show concisely their sexual 

 differences and geographical distribution. 



1. Eclectus polychlorus (Scop.). 



Maximus : mas viridis colore obscuriore, lateribus rubro- 



puniceis, cauda minus crerulea : femina rubra, fascia in- 



terscapulari, abdomine et annulo periophthalmico cyaneis. 



Hab. in insulis Papuanis et Moluccanis Ternate, Gilolo, 



Batchian, Morotai, Guebe, Waigiou, Mysol, Gage, Ke, Aru, 



Papua, Nova Hibernia, et Nova Britannia. 



2. Eclectus grandis (Gm.). 



Major : mas viridis, lateribus rubro-puniceis, cauda vix cse- 

 rulea : femina rubra, fascia interscap. et abdomine cy- 

 aneis, subcaudalibus pure flavis. 

 Hab. in insulis Ternate, Gilolo, Batchian, Morotai, et 



Gage. 



» Vide Darwin's 'Descent of Man," vol, ii. p. 200 et seq. (1871). 



