INSESSORES. 61 



which are milk-white and from seven to nine in number, about 

 an inch and an eighth long by seven-eighths of an inch broad. 



The flight of this species, although swift, is not of long du- 

 ration, nor is it characterised by those undulating sweeps com- 

 mon to the members of the genus Platycercus. Its voice is a 

 sharp clucking note several times repeated, in which respect it 

 also offers a marked difference from those birds. 



Forehead, crown and nape deep maroon red ; cheeks 

 yellowish green, becoming more yellow on the sides of the 

 neck ; back, scapularies and greater wing-coverts deep green; 

 rump jonquil-yellow ; edge of the shoulder, spurious wing 

 and base of the outer webs of the primaries rich deep blue ; 

 remainder of the primaries and the secondaries deep black ; 

 breast and abdomen blue ; vent and under tail-coverts scar- 

 let ; two centre tail-feathers yellowish green, deepening into 

 black at the tip and crossed by indistinct bars of a darker 

 tint ; lateral feathers green at their base, passing into black 

 on their inner webs, and into pale blue on the outer, both 

 webs becoming blue towards the extremity of the feather, and 

 fading into white at the tip ; irides dark brown ; bill horn- 

 colour ; legs and feet dull brown. 



The females are never so finely marked as the males, neither 

 are they so large or so gracefully formed. 



The young during the first year of their existence are of 

 nearly uniform green ; at the same time, the hues which cha- 

 racterize the adult are perceptible at almost any age. 



Genus PSEPHOTUS, Gould. 



All the members of this genus are confined to Australia, 

 and hold an intermediate station between the Flatycerci and 

 the Euphemce. They pass much of their time on the ground, 

 where the principal part of their food is procured, inhabit the 

 interior rather than the country near the coast, and are adapted 

 for the open plains, where they often assemble in vast flocks. 



