30 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



the experiment more extensively made, their form and habits 

 being very similar. 



The paucity of information here given will I trust be a 

 sufficient hint to those who may be favourably situated* for 

 observing the habits of this species, that by transmitting 

 an account of the number of its eggs or other particulars 

 respecting it either to myself or to any scientific journal, they 

 would be promoting the cause of science, and adding to the 

 stock of ornithological knowledge. 



The sexes are readily distinguished by the marked difference 

 in their plumage ; both are crested, but the crest of the male 

 is a rich scarlet, while that of the female is grey. 



The male has the forehead, crest, and cheeks fine scarlet, 

 the remainder of the plumage dark slate-grey ; all the feathers, 

 with the exception of the primaries, secondaries, and tail, 

 narrowly margined with greyish white — decided and distinct 

 on the upper, but much fainter on the under surface ; irides 

 blackish brown ; bill light horn-colour ; feet mealy black. 



The general plumage of the female is dark slate-colour, the 

 feathers of the neck and back slightly margined with pale 

 grey, the remainder of the upper surface crossed with irregular 

 bars of greyish white ; the wings have also a sulphurous hue, 

 as if powdered with sulphur ; the feathers of the under 

 surface are margined with sulphur-yellow and dull red, 

 changing into dull yellow on the under tail-coverts. 



Genus POLYTELIS, Wagler. 



This genus comprises three species, all of which are peculiar 

 to the southern portions of Australia. In their lengthened 

 form they resemble in appearance the Palaorni of India ; but 

 they differ from them considerably in structure, and form a 

 very isolated genus among the Psittacidcs 



The sexes are very different in colour ; the male being by 

 far the finest; both, however, are adorned with lengthened 

 and elegantly formed tails. 



