90 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Sp. 443. LATHAMUS DISCOLOR. 



Swift Lorikeet. 



Psittacus discolor, Shaw, in White's Voy., pi. in p. 263. 

 Red-shouldered Parrakeef, Phill. Bot. Bay, pi. in p. 209. 

 Psittacus humeralis, Kuhl. Consp. Psitt. in Nova Acta, vol. x. p. 47. 

 Psittacus australis, Ibid., p. 48. 



Lathami, Bechst. Lath. Uebers. der Vog. p. 81. 



Perruche Banks, Le Vaill. Hist, des Pen-., p. 104, pi. 50. 

 Nanodes discolor, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 276. 

 Euphema discolor, Wagl. Mon. Psitt. in Abhand., vol. i. pp. 492 and 



545. 

 Psittacus banksianus,Yie\\l. Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat., torn. xxv. p. 342. 

 Lathamus rubifrons, Less. Traite d'Orn., p. 205. 

 La Perruche Latham, Le Vaill. Hist, des Perr., p. 123, pi. 62, young. 

 Psittacus discolor, Kuhl, Consp. in Nov. Acta, vol. x. p. 48, young. 

 Trichoylosms discolor, G. R. Gray, List, of Spec, of Birds in Brit. 



Mus. part iii. sec. ii. p. 63. 

 Swift Parrakeet, Colonists of Tasmania. 



Lathamus discolor, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v. pi. 47. 



This elegant Lorikeet is a migratory species, passing the 

 summer and breeding-season only in the more southern parts 

 of the Australian continent and Tasmania, and retiring north- 

 ward for the remainder of the year. During September and 

 the four following months, it is not only abundant in all the 

 gum-forests of Tasmania, but is very common in the shrub- 

 beries and gardens at Hobart Town. It is frequently to be 

 seen on the gum-trees bordering the streets, within a few feet 

 of the heads of the passing inhabitants, and so intent upon 

 gathering the honey from the fresh-blown flowers which daily 

 expand, as almost entirely to disregard their presence. The tree 

 to which it is so eagerly attracted is the JEucahjptus gibbosus, 

 cultivated specimens of which appear to have finer blossoms 

 than those in their native forests. It is certainly the finest 

 of the Eucalypti I have ever seen, and when its pendent 

 branches are covered with thick clusters of pale yellow bios- 



