88 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



early age, and the sexes offer no external difference by which 

 they can be distinguished. 



Genus GEOPSITTACUS, Gould. 



Of this form only a single species and a single example is 

 known ; nothing has at present been ascertained of its habits. 



Sp. 442. GEOPSITTACUS OCCIDENTALIS, Gould. 



Western Ground-Parrakeet. 

 Geopsittacus occidentalis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. See, 1861, p. 100. 



I have had in my possession for many years the skin of a 

 Parrakeet, which was sent to me direct from Perth, in Western 

 Australia, and which differs, in my opinion, both generically 

 and specifically from every other known species. In general 

 appearance, and especially in its colouring, it resembles the 

 Fezoporus formosus ; but, on carefully comparing it with that 

 species, some remarkable differences are apparent. In Fezo- 

 porus the proportions of the head, bill, body, wings, and tail 

 are evenly balanced, the legs are especially adapted for running 

 over the ground, and the claws, particularly that of the outer 

 hind toe, are remarkably long ; wdiile, in the bu'd under 

 consideration, the head is disproportionately large, the man- 

 dibles short and robust, the nostrils high and round, the tarsi 

 and toes short and delicate, and the nails unusually diminu- 

 tive when compared with those of other Parrakeets ; to com- 

 plete the differences seen in this anomalous bird, the wings 

 are large and long, while the tail is very short. The whole 

 contour of Fezoporus is graceful and elegant ; the present 

 bird, on the other hand, is short and dumpy, and much 

 reminds me of a diminutive Stn'^ops. 



I need scarcely add how desirable it is that additional ex- 

 amples of this bird should be procured by those who may 

 have favourable opportunities for so doing. 



